Page 138 of Echoes of War

Everything that we’d done out here, the stand we had taken would be pointless if I couldn’t save Riley’s life. It would all be for nothing and I would lose not one, but two more members of my family if I failed. Seth had been wrong—I did make a difference, and everyone’s fate lay in my healing hands.

“Do you understand me?” Moe yelled. I winced, her usually small voice becoming large and commanding, bringing me back to attention.

“Yes,” I said, cutting a glare to my brother. “Where?”

I nodded, the instructions she mumbled off muted, my mind occupied by making a checklist of injuries to check for and the order of importance that I healed them all in. It would be a band aid until I could get him into a sterile room. He’d need surgery no matter what. If Riley was near death, there was no magical quick-fix.

Why does it have to be me?Tears swelled into my eyes. I couldn’t fix Jax. I didn’t want to be responsible for the death of someone else I loved. I’d said goodbye to far too many brothers in this life. I refused to leave one more.

“You need to get to Riley NOW!” Moe screamed, spit flying from her mouth.

I gazed over at my brother. He reminded me of everything I once loved in life, of the people I would always love, no matter their sins. Our time on the road together jogged in my memory, a small smile pulling at my lips as a tear dropped warming my cheek.

That time we spent together, how close we’d gotten, I’d hold that close to my life for as long as I lived. I would never stop loving my brother, but I was ready to stop loving the version of the man I thought him to be.

“Goodbye, Seth. I sincerely hope to never see you again. You may think I’m nothing, that I don’t make a difference, that the people here couldn’t care less if I live or die. But you’re about to see how some of us don’t have to compromise who we are to protect the people we love.”

Tomoe

“Iknow what you are.”

He was as handsome as ever. Even with the bruises and busted lip. In fact, it made him look just likemySeth. The unpredictability of his mood, along with his hot temper, was what attracted me to him in the first place.Typical.Guess Amaia wasn’t the only one excited by red flags.

I traced Wrath over his jugular, the weight of her getting heavy in my arms at my reach. “And what’s that?”

“You do magic,” he said matter-of-factly. “You’re a witch. They speak of you—at home. Said you’ve been casting spells, teaching them to replicate it, changing the structure of their DNA without science.”

Well, when you put it that way.

“Sure,” I sighed, unimpressed.

His head jerked back. “Sure? That’s all you have to say? It’s all too hypocritical if I’m honest.”

“I’ve come to understand one thing about you, Seth,” I sneered, “and that’s that honesty isn’t something you’re good at. I’m not a witch. IwasPagan. I don’t practice anymore, not that it’s any of your damn business.”

Seth’s hair fell in front of his eyes, chin resting against my blade. “Make it my business then. Come back with us.”

I’m not ashamed to admit that I considered it—what life could be with him outside of this place. Trying to pretend that love was enough and that he hadn’t betrayed me would do no one any favors though.

“Did you cast a spell on me, Moe?” He pressed, brows arching.

Taking advantage of my hesitation, Seth closed the space between us. Gripping the end of Wrath, he pushed her down then grabbed my face, tilting it up to hold his stare. He leaned forward, bringing himself closer to my level, his face directly in mine.

Stupidly, I let him. Wanted the safety of his kiss one more time. “If I did, I must’ve fucked it up,” I bit out, closing my eyes to shatter the spell of his charm.

Seth pushed my shoulder back, putting distance between us. “Moe,” he growled.

“She’s staying here,” I ground out, my finger pointing down at the ground. “Reina won’t be going anywhere when she has people here who love her unconditionally.”

Seth gritted his teeth, sneering as if I’d insulted him. “She doesn’t know what’s best for her.”

“Oh,” I said. “And you do?”

Before, I had always assumed Seth had been one of those people who were hard on their little siblings because they wanted what was best for them. Then he’d tried to sell us out, Reina included, so pardon me if I had some trouble believing he suddenly wanted thatnow.

“She’s not thinkin’ straight and neither are you,” Seth deadpanned. “You’re all thinking with your hearts instead of your head. You can’t save everyone, Moe, none of y’all can. Amaia may think she can save the world her way, but my dad is more of ahis way or the highwaykind of guy. She’s willing to damn you. I’m not. Save yourselves, live to fight another day. At least see what it’s like before you hate it.”

The audacity.We may not always see eye to eye on methods, but everything Amaia did was for us. If she had decided not to accept the hand Seth was extending, then I trusted her judgment. Not only that, I didn’t need Amaia to make decisions for me. I didn’t need anyone to when I could make my own. Seth’s love had blinded me once. I would not let it happen a second time.

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