Page 44 of A Single Thread Of Hope

I screamed as I hit them like a linebacker, and we all went down in a heap, a sliver of light revealing their faces. Clotho and Atropos, the remaining Moirai, though they’d become something haggard and ugly since the death of their sister, the weathering of age catching up to them finally.

My scream turned into something filled with rage. White-hot, burning rage boiled in my chest. Incomprehensible words echoed around the room as we wrestled for the knife, spittle flying from Clotho’s lips as she cursed me in ancient Greek. I scratched at their faces, legs, arms as I tried to kill them. I kicked and fought for my babies. For their lives and mine.

Nate was suddenly there, his ax flying through the air, beheading Clotho. Her head thumped to the floor beside mine, her eyes wide open and her face in an eternal grimace. He spun quickly and buried his ax in Atropos’s back, and she fell beside her sister.

The Moirai were no more.

Nate slumped to his knees beside me. “Wren,” he breathed, horror etched across his pale face.

The room was getting foggy at the edges. Were there more shadows? Had they brought reinforcements? I looked down and realized that rage wasn’t the only thing burning in my chest.

The golden knife was also there, buried to the hilt.

I tried to speak, but pained gasps and wet sounds were the only thing that bubbled out. Nate was shouting, and I could hear the vibration of feet running, but it was too late. Everything was fading faster now. Then the room was gone, and the only thing left was the light, someone silhouetted there. Iknewthe curve of those shoulders. The cockiness of that stance.

Mrs. Byrne.

“I tried to warn you, child,” she chastised gently. “Come now, let’s walk. It’ll be all better soon.” Looking behind me, a small smile curled her lips at the person there. “Well, you’re a surprise, but I’m glad you're here too.”

Looking over my shoulder, I saw the blocky head of Cy’s dog form, and then the darkness was absolute.

Chapter 24

NATE

Iwatched the light leave her eyes, and I died right along with her.

Resting my head against her chest, I did something I hadn’t done in so, so long. I cried. I prayed to anyone I could think of to guide her back to me. To take me too.

Anything but this pain. This failure.

I didn’t hear the others enter the room. Didn’t hear their own shock. Their grief. I was only vaguely aware of the mournful call of the Gryphon who’d lost his mate. Until they tried to take her body from me, I wasn’t aware of any of them.

Her life was tied to mine. How was I still here?

I looked up at Demke. “You’re the God of Renewal—do something!” I yelled. It was unfair, but I didn’t give a fuck. She was young and bright, and she’d died for nothing.Thatwas unfair. “Bring her back.”

Demke’s pale face was drawn, pulled down by grief. “My power doesn’t work like that.”

I shook off the hands trying to grip me. Erus’s eyes were wide and watery, but he backed up. I didn’t want to be consoled. I’d failed her. I’d failed them.

The babies.

Jumping to my feet, I raced toward the crib, and when the Gryphon stepped in my way, I gave a war cry. I didn’t care if he’d been Wren’s mate; Wren was dead.

Wren was dead.

The only parts of her left were in that crib. “Move!”

The Gryphon roared back, making the babies cry harder, and then Milo was there.

“ENOUGH!” His anger was a force so great, it was almost a physical blow. Enough to stop me from going fist-to-beak with a monster that could eat me. Milo lowered his voice. “Enough,” he repeated, turning to reach into the crib. His big hands spanned three tiny chests, and he hummed a soft lullaby, even though his voice kept cracking. He looked at the Gryphon. “I know you can’t change right now, but can you ask Teron if they’re okay?”

Another keening noise came from its eagle mouth, but the Gryphon tilted its head further into the crib. The babies didn’t seem agitated by his presence, and I realized the Gryphon was as familiar to them as me or the rest of the guys.

Finally, he lifted his head and nodded. I let out a relieved sigh, even though it did so little to mend the hemorrhaging wound in my chest. Turning away from the crib, I realized the others had used my distraction to pick Wren up. Her body was lifeless, hanging limply in Tryp’s arms.

It wasn’t a dream.

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