Page 101 of Queen of Diamonds

No!

I ran faster than I ever had in my life, ignoring the spinning world that blurred through desperate tears.

Two steps away.

The tripwire glinted again, like a strand of spiderweb in the morning light.

I would be too late.

After everything, I was going to watch him die.

One step—and he lifted his free arm, reaching for me, shock written on his face and the motion halted him.

I almost choked with relief.

I wouldn’t be able to stop, but it didn’t matter—I collided with Zed, and he caught me. I felt a sharp pain pinch at my back—nothing compared to my wounded hands. But enough to know what had happened as the poison hit my bloodstream.

It didn’t matter.

My hands, sticky with blood, fumbled for his face as I looked up at him, ice-blue eyes fixed on mine.

I love you…

Words I couldn’t say as darkness crept in, but I was in the arms of the Alpha who’d given me a choice in a world that never had.

And this choice was mine, too.

To die surrounded, not by redwood and roses, but the cool mist of snow santal.

ZED

In my arms, Glade’s eyes rolled back, and she went limp, her hands falling from my cheeks.

“N-no...” She couldn’t be... I sank to my knees, turning her and trying to wake her. “Glade?”

Tears stung my eyes.

What had she done?

“What happened?” The faint static of Knight’s voice was almost incomprehensible.

Her breathing was short and shallow... she was dying. But she couldn’t—not now. She’d given everything for us, and I’d left her behind—left her to a monster.

“Come back, B-Baby.” My words trembled as I cupped her cheek, devoid of warmth. “Wake up.”

It couldn’t end like this. When she thought I hated her.

“What the fuck is going on?” I felt Kyan’s fear through the bond, could hear the sharpness of his voice through the earpiece.

“W-wake up.” I shook her.

I heard footsteps, and my instincts misfired. My gun snapped up, pointing at Ace, who was walking toward me. Everything in me begged to pull the trigger.

It wouldn’t be enough—a bullet wasn’t enough. I needed to tear him apart piece by piece.

“I wouldn’t...” Ace lifted a hand, and I paused, seeing two red dots appear on his palm, shivering back and forth. With a smile, he made a flicking motion toward me. My gaze jumped down to her, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw the target on her forehead.

The brown of her skin, usually rich, was now sickly; her eyes were closed. But she hadn’t been shot.

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