Page 116 of A Trial By Blood

The line of his jaw hardened, his bossy side coming forward. “Do you trust me?”

My guilt grew. “Yes.”

“Then I’ll call you if I find him,” he repeated.

“Okay, fine. But make sure you do.”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he took my hand and led me from the kitchen and out to the hall. “I don’t like leaving you.”

Pain sliced through me. I’d tried not to think about it, but I couldn’t pretend this wasn’t happening anymore. If things went wrong tonight…If whatever Zinnia had planned failed, I might not be coming back. This might be the last time I ever saw him. My eyes stung, but I ruthlessly held back my tears. I couldn’t let him see what I was feeling. But I couldn’t stop from cupping the side of his face and lifting to my toes. He immediately leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.

His chest heaved and his arms tightened around me. “Your heart’s racing,” he said against my mouth.

“My heart always races when I’m with you,” I said, and that was the truth. Though, this time, it was racing for a very different reason.

“You have the same effect on me.” He kissed me again, then lifted his head. “I’ll call you when I locate Kelley.”

The guilt grew so big it was unbearable. I nodded, then pulled him back down so I could press my lips to his one more time, then I stepped back. He studied my face, and I made myself smile. If this was the end, I wanted him to remember me with love and happiness in my eyes, not fear or sadness.

His chest expanded on a sharp breath, then he turned and walked to the door.

I called his name before he could walk out.

He turned. “Yes, petal?”

“I love you.”

His lips curled up in a grin that brightened his gorgeous eyes, and he flashed his white teeth and fangs. “Love you too.”

My knees grew weak and my heart was still pounding in my chest when he walked out the door and closed it behind him.

* * *

My phone beeped. Ronan had been texting regularly, keeping me updated. He’d found Kelley, but the male had two witches in his entourage, and they were actively warding him, making it impossible for Ronan, or anyone, to get close. We obviously weren’t the only ones who wanted a piece of the guy. Did all the security have something to do with the male he met with in my vision? The extremely angry male who had thrown an effigy across the room?

“Okay?” Zinnia asked as we walked through the wide iron gates of the cemetery.

We’d slipped out when everyone had finally gone to bed.

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” I wrapped my coat around me tighter. I could smell snow in the air.

Zinnia didn’t look convinced but didn’t press for more. “We need soil, lilies, and some nettle leaves,” she said as we weaved through the headstones.

The thick slabs of marble and stone were all different shapes and sizes, some crumbling they were so old. I could feel magic all around me. It was comforting. I’d always loved this place. Gran’s was the newest stone here, and it seemed to shine under the moonlight. The space beside hers was free, and when I thought I was going to die, I’d chosen it for myself. The only person I’d told was Iris, and I’d made her promise to keep it to herself until the time came. I thought I’d already be here, my bones adding to the magic of our most sacred place.

If it hadn’t been for Ronan, I would be.

“You’ll see him again soon,” Zinnia said, reading my mind, a look crossing her face I couldn’t decipher.

She’d been quiet, contemplative most of the night.

“What’s going on, Zinny?” I stopped her. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Well, we’re about to have some face time with Death.” She chuckled. “I know it’s rare, but I freely admit to being a tad nervous. But”—she held up a finger—“I have this all under control. Trust your awesome cousin.”

“You know I trust you. I’ll owe you forever for coming with me tonight. But Death doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to change his mind, and you need to know, if it comes down to it and the only way out of this is to sacrifice me, I want you to do it. I won’t let this hurt my family. The coven needs to be protected at all costs, even if that means I have to go with Death.” The thought of never seeing Ronan again was killing me. If I thought about it, really thought about it, I started to shut down. It was too painful to comprehend.

Zinnia’s green gaze held mine. “Rose—”