Coda by Trina M. Lee

Author:Trina M. Lee [Lee, Trina M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Mountain Books
Published: 2018-03-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The dagger slid between his ribs with unexpected ease. And in that brief second he had left, Kale kissed me harder.

Then it was over.

Dust and ash fell gently at my feet. My hands shook. Honey-drenched blood stained the Dragon Claw’s blade. Shocked, I let the dagger fall and collapsed to my knees on the cold stone.

Plunging both hands into the dust, I stared in shock and horror as it sifted between my fingers. Turning my hands over I watched as the curse mark faded away.

Somewhere I heard Jez dissolve into hysterics. She sounded far away. I glanced around but saw only the inside of Shya’s house. Not the real house but the illusion he created to keep himself occupied inside the stone.

Shya himself stood near the fireplace, a frown etched into his brow. “I didn’t think you had it in you. I’ve got to admit, I didn’t see this coming. Well played. Enjoy your victory.”

A few blinks and he was gone. I was back in his backyard, watching a streak of gold dash into the night. Jez had shifted and fled the scene.

I should go after her, I knew that, and yet I couldn’t. Staring down at the dust and ash, I tried to comprehend the gravity of what had just happened. But it was so surreal. Part of me refused to accept it.

And then harsh reality came crashing down. What I’d just done, it could never be taken back.

The scream trapped inside me found its way out. It echoed through the night. Shrill and hysterical, I kept screaming until warm arms wrapped around me. The scent of pine and wolf clouded over me.

I collapsed in Shaz’s arms.

He came. He should’ve been leading his pack on a full moon night. But he was here.

Still the tears would not come. I willed them to well up, to flow down my face to stain Shaz’s shirt as I clutched it tight in my dusty fist, screaming so hard it hurt. But they refused to release my pain.

I’d given Kale what he’d wanted. This had been an act of love. So why did I hate myself so much?

Kale is dead. Kale is dead. Kale is dead.

This played on repeat in my head until I started muttering it myself.

Shaz slapped my face, harder each time, until finally the sting of my cheek snapped my gaze to his.

“Lex.” Shaz shook me when I mumbled those three words again. “Lex, come on. Talk to me, babe. I’m here. I’ve got you.”

“I did it.” I shook in his grasp. “I can’t believe I did it.”

He smoothed a hand over my hair, pausing to study the bloody wound in my neck. “It’s what he wanted. You know that.”

“I can’t believe I did it,” I repeated. Sucking the cold night air into my lungs, I stared at the dusty remains, afraid the breeze would steal away what was left of him. No sooner had the thought formed than I pulled away from Shaz and began to frantically gather as much as I could into my hands.

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