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I’m barely conscious as Mal scoops me into his arms, cradling my limp, burned body gently against his chest as he staggers deep into the blessed shade of the barn.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers, his voice breaking. “I’ve got you…”
He wrenches one of the horse stall doors open and sits me down behind it, as if trying to shield me further.
He turns again, blood pouring down from his ribs as he charges back outside. Jonas is just staggering to his feet as Mal’s bloodied frame slams into him with a primal fury.
“Mal! Stop!”
Jonas’ eyes go wide as Mal rips the hay fork away from him.
“Mal! We’re brothers!” he shrieks, blood and spit dripping from his mouth. “We’refamily!”
Mal’s cold, brutal laugh shreds the air.
“No, Jonas. We’re not.”
The sickening sound of steel points plunging wetly through Jonas’ throat into the dirt, followed by Jonas’ gurgling scream, has me wrenching my face away and squeezing my eyes shut.
I flinch as a shadow falls over me. The light is still streaming in through the barn door, inching closer and closer as the sun rises higher in the sky.
“I’m here,” Mal croaks as he drops to his knees in front of me. I can barely move without pure agony ripping open every single nerve in my body. But I still manage to throw myself against him.
It doesn’t matter if it hurts when his arms encircle me.
I don’t care.
Because if this is the end, he’s who I want to hold onto.
Mal eases us down, covering my body with his. He winces as he rips his shirt off, covering more of me with it.
I look up at him, tears streaming down my face. “I love you,” I choke out.
“I love you too,” he rasps quietly. Then his eyes roll back and wet stickiness flows from the stabs in his side, coating me.
My vision fades. My body screams in pain, but then a smile twists my lips.
Not a bad way to die.
One last moment in the morning sunlight.
In his arms.
48
FREYA
The world feelslike it’s slipping away, fading in and out like a half-remembered dream.
My skin screams. Every breath is shallow. It feels like the surface of my body is being grated off me, one layer at a time.
But none of that matters when my eyes slowly open.
Mal…
He’s lying on top of me, covering me.
But he’s completely still, his body limp and cold.
