Chapter 57
Chapter
Fifty-Seven
The dagger slashed across Pia’s throat, and all I could do was watch.
Watch as she gasped and her frantic gaze met mine, pure terror in her dazed eyes when the knife pierced again between her ribs.
Watch as thick, crimson, life-sustaining fluid saturated the dirt under her boots.
Watch as her palm caressed the small bump of her bleeding stomach one final time before the color drained from her skin—as her body landed limp on the ground, her strawberry hair curled around her beautiful face, frozen in time as she bled out.
I acted as a silent observer when Kohen’s mouth tore open and released a cataclysmic shriek when he realized what had happened.
I coughed and choked on my own vomit when nausea flooded me like a rogue wave, soaking my clothes in my own regurgitation. I couldn't wipe the tears or rub the sting in my nose as sobs and rapid inhales overwhelmed me, despite the shadows clogging my airway.
I forced my brain to shut out the maniacal screams that emulated from Kohen’s soul. I pretended that this was a nightmare that would wake me up, where I’d find myself tucked tightly into Sebastian's arms.
“Well, that was exciting!” Beaumont chimed, rolling his beady eyes from Pia’s limp figure and directing them back to me.
“Here's what's going to happen now, sweet Maeve. You will be coming with me. We have some important studies to work on together.” He paused, turning his glare to a hysterical Kohen.
“Can you please quiet down? You're disturbing the wildlife,” Beaumont sneered as a group of bluebirds scattered out of a nearby tree.
Kohen gasped through a harsh inhale, and I don’t think he even heard what Beaumont said.
He shot his glare at Sebastian next. “As for you, Mr. Hawthorne, you and your friends will be allowed to leave. But when your cousin finishes bleeding out, please take her corpse with you. I would hate to leave trash in such a beautiful forest. And don’t bother coming to look for Maeve.
You won’t be able to find her. Rest assured that we will be back in due course, once I am fully prepared to claim the empire that is rightfully mine. ”
My eyes met Sebastian's for all of a second, before my sights and senses were wrapped in shadow. Then he was gone, and all I was left with was darkness.