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Xander is picking me up from the dirt and cradling me to his chest as more forms whiz by. Harlan slashes the beast’s side, tearing flesh and skin as Ambrose spins through the air, landing a solid kick to the creature's back legs. Milo’s form darts between the shadows of the cave, his body moving faster than I can blink as he appears above the beast and clambers on top, sinking sharp talons into its spine.

It’s a dance between the four vampires as they pummel and strike the creature. Each landing a blow and coming back for more.

“Break the doll!” Cassius cries over the beast’s roars.

My hands shake as I hold the doll. Its little face looks up at me with red threading and a tuft of my hair atop its head. Grasping the neck with one hand and the body with another, I began to twist.

Xander’s scent envelopes me as I lean into his embrace. “I’ve got you, little mate. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

A deafening cry explodes from the creature, and movement catches my eye. Cole hauls a small body from the cave. Blood covers Tyler from head to toe as Cole clutches him tightly, his voice echoing over the ridge as he pleads to Tyler.

My grasp tightens on the doll as I suck in a deep breath and snap each twig. The world tilts, and my ears ring with a deafening scream. Like thunder in the distance, my heartbeat pounds against my skull.

Finally, the head of the doll separates from the body, and my limbs grow numb as a strange sense of calm sweeps through my soul. It’s a calm that overrides the terror of the fight before me.

As I suck in a breath, feeling myself grow fainter by the second, a shadow looms over us as Cassius slams into Xander’s side. Both men go flying and Xander’s arms are ripped out from around me.

My body slumps to the ground, and dark spots creep into the corners of my vision as my chest tightens and I watch in horror as the Soultracker slashes at Harlan, catching him with its claws and cutting deep into his shoulder. Ambrose snarls and throws himself at the beast, only for it to snap in a split second and sink its teeth into his side. Ambrose’s scream has my blood running cold. Bucking wildly, the beast throws Milo from its back, and he tumbles over the edge of the ridge, disappearing from sight. Each vampire lies lifeless on the ground. Blood seeps from wounds, and fangs flash.

But it’s those humanoid eyes that turn to me that have tears leaking from my eyes. Why isn’t it weakened? The doll is broken, I'm dying, yet this thing isn’t falling! I can’t move, I can’t feel my own body, and each breath grows harder and harder until it feels like I'm breathing through a straw.

Sucking in a gasp, my lungs seize and my heart thunders as I watch the beast stride towards me. Blood drips from its jaw as it rolls its tongue across its teeth.

“Please, no,” I barely manage to whisper as it draws closer, stalking me like a predator would its prey.

I shut my eyes, waiting for the worst. Xander will be left with a mauled body to find, if he survives. “I’m sorry,” I whimper.

Chapter Eighteen

Xander

The forest is calm, and a gentle breeze sweeps over my skin. The warmth of the sun is welcome as the dank air of the forest fades.

I reach down to where I feel a weight against me and pull Noah closer to my side. But my hands drift over bulging hard muscle, and the scent of mint rolls through my nose. Something’s wrong.

My eyes snap open and I'm gasping for breath. The sounds of the world slam into me, and I flinch at the deafening roar of the beast. I can’t blink as I take in the sight before me. With bloody wounds and snapped bones, the beast still manages to stand. But it’s the small form with auburn hair at its feet that has every ounce of my focus. Panic strikes through me as Noah’s scent fades by the second and his heart no longer beats.

The Soultracker looms over him like a vision of death, its jaws impossibly wide as it pounces for my mate. Scrambling, I throw myself across Noah’s body, shielding him with myself. And the beast doesn't hesitate as it flies through the air, hands outstretched and teeth gnashing. I raise a futile fist across Noah, knowing there's nothing I can do now. But at least neither of us will be alive to feel the pain of grief.

I wait for the flash of pain, for the indescribable pressure of bones snapping and flesh tearing, but it doesn’t come. Instead, it's something far worse. Something I never saw coming.

Tyler crawls on his hands and knees with blood covering his body and his face pale as paper, but his eyes glow with dark magic. The same kind that created this beast.

Cole is frozen in his spot, his eyes glued to the witch who hisses in Latin, his lips molding around foreign sounds and phrases.

My gaze turns to the beast, whom I find to be only inches from us, suspended in midair. With its jaw wide open, I can see right down its disgusting throat. It whines and tries to reach for Noah, but every attempt is useless.

Tyler’s voice rises, and the beast howls in agony as its bones begin to crack and bend in angles that has my stomach revolting. “You need to kill it!” Tyler cries out as he slumps to the floor, fighting for every drop of consciousness before he fades.

I don’t hesitate. It might have been the first thing I've done right since meeting Noah. Banding my arms around the beast’s throat, I squeeze and I don't let go. I can feel its slimy blood seeping across my skin, the stickiness of the pus that explodes from welts, but I press harder. A growl rips through me as I find the perfect angle and twist. The snap of the beast’s spine is like a clap of thunder. It’s a sound I don't think I'll ever be able to forget.

Every ounce of strength dissolves from the creature, its life fading into nothing. Tyler slumps to the floor, and Cole cradles him closely before speeding into the depths of the forest without another word.

I fall to my knees beside Noah, my hands trembling as I clutch at his tiny, cold frame. He’s cold. Too cold. Pulling his form against myself, I weep. Tears stream down my cheeks as I bury my face into his curly hair, sucking in lungfuls of his fading scent. It’s so faint. As if he's miles away from me. Too far for me to reach.

“No, no, little mate. Come back to me,” I sputter and squeeze his lifeless body tighter, desperate to feel his arms wrapping around mine. To hear the steady thump of his heart and to be consumed by his scent. But as each second ticks by, I know I've missed that window. It was gone long before I even came to.

He died alone. My mate’s last memories were of fear and abandonment. I wasn’t with him at the time I most should have been. I’ve failed him beyond comparison.