Page 96 of Knight’s Absolution

Panic built inside her. “Please, let me go, I need to go to him,” she pleaded.

Ronan shook his head, his gaze searching hers. “You’re confused. Dhampir aren’t supposed to feel, Luna. They broke you.” He motioned to Gunner again. “He broke you.”

Gunner roared, the sound all demon.

Luna tried to run to him, but her brother scooped her up easily and strode toward the mouth of the alley. She screamed and fought, but it was no use.

Ronan turned the corner and she lost sight of him.

She lost sight of Gunner.

Her heart was a dead lifeless husk in her chest, but somehow it still managed to shatter.

CHAPTER 27

Gunner’s roar filled the alleyway, the power behind it shaking him to his bones, rattling his fucking skull. His brain short-circuited and his fist smashed into the brick wall in front of him. He was going to tear it down, tear it all down until he found her.

His fist connected with the brick, again and again, skin splitting, bone crunching, blood everywhere. A frenzy of desperation and anger making it impossible to stop. He called her name until his throat was raw.

But she was gone, oh fuck, she was gone. The cry that left him as he threw another punch couldn’t be him. It couldn’t be. His demon had control, and there was no stopping him. They wanted her back. They wanted her back right fucking now.

Strong arms came around him from behind, pulling him back, or trying to. Then more, hands at his shoulders, around his chest. Someone stepped in front of him, he had no idea who, all he could see was red. He smashed his head forward, connecting with something. He growled and tried to fight his way free of whoever was holding him.

The punch to his jaw sent a shockwave through him, enough that the red receded. Rocco stood in front of him, nose busted and leaking blood.

His brother gripped his face in his big, rough hands and got nose-to-nose close. “Stop. You need to fucking stop. Now. I know what you’re feeling, brother, you know I do. But we can’t look for her when we’re trying to stop you from killing yourself.”

Gunner jerked back, pulling away from Chaos and Zenon who held him from behind, and staggered.

“You need to focus,” Chaos said. “Reach out, search for her.”

Gunner shook his head, the clawing of his demon relentless, its howls lifting the hair on the back of his neck. All the calm, the control he’d had over that part of himself since he found Luna was gone, decimated because she was gone. If he looked in a mirror, his eyes would be completely black.

His demon pressed against his skin, causing a ripple down his spine, so close to the surface, so desperate for him to shift and let him take over.

“Find the control,” Zenon said low. “Dig deep and fucking find it.”

Gunner shook his head again. “She’s gone.” Dragging his fingers over his head, he paced back and forward, so much adrenaline pumping through him with nowhere to go.

“You can track her,” Rocco said. “Right?”

The reality of just how bad this was hit with full force at Rocco’s words. Gunner met his searching stare. “We’re not mated. She needed time after what Azel…” He growled. “She needed time. I can’t track her, I can’t find her. They’re blocking her again.”

Chaos cursed.

“She had some freedom before, she won’t anymore.” Gunner shook his head. “Azel will make sure I never find her again.”

At those words, the fragile grip he had on his control snapped. His demon pushed harder, and Gunner let him have his way. He shifted into his Kishi demon form, his clothes falling in tatters at his feet, and shot into the night sky.

Luna had found a way to reach him before. No matter how long it took for her to get another chance, he wouldn’t stop reaching out for her, calling for her until that time came.

He wouldn’t stop searching.

The rest of it could all burn.

Luna fought against Ronan’s hold until she couldn’t anymore. He held her to his chest, striding through the city streets. The air around them rippled as they seemingly walked right through people. His power was so incredibly strong, stronger than she ever believed.

She gripped the lapel of his jacket. “Ronan, please, tell me where you’re taking me.”