Page 104 of Queen of Diamonds

“I was wrong, Baby,” I whispered, stroking her hair. “I was wrong, and so fucking stupid, so just come back so I can tell you that.”

But her skin was pale, and everything was wrong as she lay, limp in my arms.

“This is my fault.”

“Not the time?—”

“It’s my brother… How did I not know?” I asked. “Why did I believe she… she left us?”

“Because she’s the smartest person we’ve ever met, and that’s what she wanted you to think.”

I took her hand in mine. It wasn’t warm enough.

One of her nails had snapped, I realised. I don’t know why I couldn’t take my eyes from it. Each was long, silver and manicured—except one, which was lilac. That was something she’d chosen to go and have done, even living by herself. Why hadn’t I noticed before?

But now, one was snapped.

Had it broken today? Or when she was with us?

An Omega who deserved everything—the whole fucking world, and I’d locked her in a fucking cell.

“I’ll get it fixed,” I whispered, running my finger over the broken silver piece. I’d take her myself. I would fix everything. “Just wake up.”

My finger traced her wrist, waiting for the pulse.

My jaw clenched, a surge of white hot fear hit my veins. “Her pulse…” Where was it?

Was I imagining it?

“Knight.”

He was reaching over already, fingers finding her throat, brows drawn. “She’s… fine. She has to be.”

“Knight, I c-can’t feel it.”

His breathing was tight as he pressed deeper.

“No, no, no…” I stroked her cheek. “Baby, no, you’ve gotta wait a bit longer. Kyan’s coming, all right?”

But… her pulse should be there. Panic gripped me as I looked up at Knight. “What do we do?”

This wasn’t supposed to happen. There was a plan.

We were waiting for Kyan. He was a mad genius. He’d fix her, then I’d spend the rest of my life making it up to her. I would take her to get her nails done every day if she wanted.

She couldn’t leave now. Not like this. Not because of me.

“Glade…” I shook her.

“Zed…” I’d never heard Knight like that. “Zed, move.”

“Why?”

The pulse was gone, but I must be numb, that was all. I was so numb I couldn’t feel it.

“Lay her straight.”

What?

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