Page 134 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

Glancing at King and his smug look, my stomach sinks.

“You fucking lied!” I seethe at King.

“They’re supposed to be out for twenty-four hours. I guess they’re stronger than I assumed. Not that any of that matters now.”

I fight and scratch and kick, but I might as well be fighting against a brick wall. Whatever King gave me makes me feel heavy. My arms drag as I lift it to aim another useless attack against my abductor.

I spot Kai, attempting to move towards me. His slow crawl getting stronger.

“KIARRA!” Kai’s hoarse voice rasps out as he struggles to fight against the paralysing serum. The others are in similar states of struggle against the warlocks immobilising spell.

“Kill them.”

Two words, and my world tilts and spins on its axis. Time stops around me, hearing King’s order like a knife to my heart.

Shaking off the darkness just a little longer, I feel a spike of adrenaline rushing through my veins, pushing me to stay awake.

“No…” My lips feel funny as I slur out the word, trying to lift my head up enough to see Kai and the others. To make sure they’re okay.

“Please… Please…”

King ignores my pleas, as the warlock’s line up shooting another potion, this one more deadly and terrifying.

No. No. NO! NO!

It hits each of the guys in the chest. A black substance spreads across their arms and down their legs.

I push myself to stay awake as I hear them cry out in agony.

“Please, help them. I’ll do anything you ask.” I beg and plead, but King ignores me as his cruel chuckle echoes around me.

“I don’t need your obedience for what I have planned for you.”

I hear their pained grunts as King gets his men to open a portal for us to leave.

Pushing up against the guard’s shoulders on shaky arms, I see each of my mates suffer in pain as they die in front of me.

No!

My tears run freely as I helplessly watch my nightmare come alive.

Jax and Luka convulse, a thick white foam forming at their mouths.

Rion’s scales ripple and rot, turning to ash and falling to the ground.

Axel lets out a tortured roar full of anguish and pain, skin melting off his body like liquid.

Kai stretches out a blackened hand toward me, lines of fire pulsing through them as he reaches out.

Something inside me cracks, splintering throughout my entire body. It ripples outward as a dark ice coils around me, removing every slice of warmth left inside. It continues its path making its way to the last shred of hope deep within.

“Al… ways.”

An icy cold rushes over me as we step into the portal.

Along with Kai’s goodbye, the last remaining part of me shatters into the darkness.

CHAPTER 27

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