Page 157 of Summer of Sacrifice

Trembling, she watched as Grimm’s skeletal hand plunged deep into her littlest Sister’s chest as he roared in anguish and agony. A dark, glowing soul rushed forth, a crown still poised on her head.

Winnie let out a garbled cry.

The reaper wrapped her in his decrepit arms just before there was a bright flash of light, like a cosmic starburst, blinding Winnie.

A breath later, magic shot back into her, both warming and chilling. A hum of returned magic thrummed through the valley.

When she opened her eyes again, Lady Magic and Lord Night were gone, but the bodies of Agatha and Grimm were plummeting toward the ground.

Winnie screamed, rushing for them. Her magic darted out to catch Aggie, and Laurent’s magic shot forward for Grimm.

SELESTE

There was screaming and wailing.

So much blood.

Numb.

Her ears were underwater.

Someone pulled at her.

“...can’t!”

She was being tugged, but she couldn’t register anything.

Too dark.

It was too dark in her heart.

Aggie was gone.

Gone.

“Seleste!” It was Winnie, her face twisted in despair, pulling at her arm from the ground. “We can’t stop yet. Please!” she begged. “Stay with me!”

Asa was carrying Sorscha. She was wailing, screaming.

Gaius was on his knees, rocking Grimm’s lifeless form back and forth in his lap, his head tipped to the sky as he bellowed.

Seleste dragged her eyes from Grimm to Winnie, who was pulling at her wrist. Aggie lay in Winnie’s arms. She dropped to the dirt and gore, her vision dotting, her mind beginning to lose consciousness.

“Take Aggie!” Winnie screamed, her face covered in blood, snot, and tears. “Seleste!”

Numbly, she took Aggie’s lifeless body from their Sister Winter, cradling her.

WINNIE

Not yet.

She couldn’t stop yet.

Winnie gritted her teeth, pulling at every speck of rage and pain she’d held onto for the last three hundred years.

Her magic shot her into the air as if she were flying.

Someone appeared next to her. Laurent.

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