Page 88 of The Devil's Wrath

Theo ran a hand through his hair, and he looked genuinely remorseful. “I was planning on telling you, but it never seemed like the right time.”

“The right time? My brother looked at me like I disgusted him.”

Theo reached out to touch my arm, but I flinched away. “I think he was more disgusted with me than you. My comment about fucking his sister probably didn’t help.” He winced. “I’m sorry, baby. And I promise I’ll make this right.”

I shook my head, unconvinced. “I need some air.”

I pushed past him, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor. I could hear him following behind, but I didn’t slow down. I needed to process everything that had just happened.

Bursting through the front doors and into the cool night, the sounds of the party became louder as I walked down the gravel path, my heels sticking into the soft earth. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft, silvery glow over the expansive gardens. The scent of roses and jasmine filled the air, but the chill had me shivering. I walked closer to the fire pits, when a loud explosion ripped through the night air, leaving behind a deafening roar that sent shockwaves through the ground. I stumbled forward, nearly losing my balance as the earth trembled beneath my feet.

It was eerily quiet for a few seconds before panicked screams broke out from the direction of the manor. I spun around, my heart racing as I witnessed the chaos unfolding. Flames licked at the night sky, engulfing one of the tents in a fierce inferno. Guests fled the gardens, their expressions twisted in terror.

I stood frozen, rooted to the spot, unable to process what I was seeing. A thick plume of black smoke billowed from the direction of the manor and clawed at the sky, casting everything in an ominous orange glow. Guests scattered in every direction, marked by fear. Some stumbled, others crawled, and their clothes were torn and smeared with soot. The acrid stench of burning wood and flesh assaulted my nostrils, causing me to gag.

Then another explosion, this one closer. The force sent me careening backward. I hit the ground hard, the air knocked from my lungs. I lay there, dazed and disoriented, a high-pitched ringing in my ears silencing the screams around me. Debris rained down, and I instinctively covered my head with my arms as shards of glass and embers fell onto my skin.

“Wren?”

I heard someone yelling my name, but the ringing muffled their voice.

Struggling to my feet, I looked through the haze and saw Theo’s silhouette yelling for me.

“Theo?” I coughed and sputtered, the thick smoke burning my lungs.

“Wren?” he shouted again, not seeing me.

“Theo? I’m here.” But he didn’t hear me. My cries were drowned out by gunshots and the cacophony of screams.

I stumbled forward, my vision blurred by the smoke as I neared the spot where I had seen Theo. But he wasn’t looking my way.

A dark figure dressed in a black Kevlar military uniform and holding an assault rifle emerged from the shadows. The figure turned, and I caught a glimpse of their eyes in the flickering light of the flames.

It couldn’t be.

“Connor?” I croaked. “What are you doing here?”

He stared at me, his eyes wild and filled with a rage I had never seen before. “I’m doing what needs to be done,” he snarled. “This family, this empire—it’s time for a new order to take their place. Starting with your freak boyfriend.”

“Connor, please, you don’t have to do this. We can talk about it.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “There is no other way, Wren. Don’t you see? You embarrassed me, flaunting around with that motherfucker. The Brotherhood poisons everything they touch. He—” I watched him lift his gun, pointing it at Theo, who still had his back turned. “He’s poisoned everything, including you. You’re just another whore on their roster, and you can’t even see it. And this time, I’ll have my revenge.”

“No!” Time seemed to slow as I forced myself to sprint toward Theo, my heart pounding against my ribcage. The gravel bit into my bare feet, but I barely felt the pain. All I could focus on was reaching Theo before Connor pulled the trigger. “Theo, look out!” I screamed.

“Wren?” Theo turned around, his eyes widening as he saw Connor pointing the gun at him. I watched Theo pull his own gun out of his waistband. I lunged forward, throwing myself in front of him just as the deafening crack of gunshots split the very air and my body slammed into Theo’s with the force of my momentum.

Agony erupted in my abdomen, and when I glanced down, I saw blood spreading across my dress, turning the golden fabric into a dreadful shade of crimson. My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the floor.

My vision blurred at the edges as Theo’s anguished cry cut through the fog of pain. He held me tightly, supporting me against his chest as he gently laid me down. “No, no, no. Wren, baby. Stay with me. Please hold on.”

His voice seemed far away and muted, as though he were speaking from beneath water. I attempted to focus on his face, but my eyelids grew heavy, and the world around me began to blur.

More gunshots rang out, followed by shouts and hurried footsteps. I struggled to comprehend my surroundings. All I felt was the searing pain burning through my stomach and the comforting warmth of Theo’s arms holding me close.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice almost drowned out by the distant screams. “I’m so sorry.”

“Shh, don’t talk. Save your strength.” His voice broke, and I felt something wet drip onto my cheek.

---