Page 22 of Snapped
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, could you get a grip and focus with the right head for a moment, August?
“Stop, no, wait…you’re just trying to confuse me!” he shouted at Hector again. For the first time since he’d learned of his sister’s death over a year ago, he felt some of the anger and rage seeping away.
“My husband almost died because of her.” A voice behind him caught August completely off guard and he jumped sideways, the dagger penetrating Maeve’s skin, blood dripping down his wrist.
“Aiyan.” A big man with blond hair and a hell of a lot of ink growled at the man who’d startled August. “He has a very big knife at my sister’s throat. I suggest you back the fuck off and let Hector handle this.”
So, the man with brown hair and weird brown eyes that looked almost gold in the moonlight was Aiyan. Coming face-to-face with the man who’d ended his sister’s life renewed August’s need to obtain vengeance, allowing him to push the rush of feelings for the virtual stranger aside. He quickly ran through his options. He could kill the woman that betrayed his sister and possibly throw himself at the Prince, perhaps bury the dagger deep enough that Aiyan wouldn’t survive. There was no doubt he could kill Maeve; his dagger already tasting her flesh, all he needed to do was dig deeper. But his sister had loved this woman, had died loving her as far as he knew. Knowing that now, who Maeve was, changed everything.
You know this is wrong, brother; you’ve let him use your grief against you, twist it into something hateful and contemptuous. Think about it for a moment, and do the right thing.
Impossible. Autumn was nothing more than bones and dust in a shallow hole in his parents’ backyard. A whimper fell from his lips before he could hide it, and damned if the insufferable bastard, Hector, didn’t catch it. August couldn’t decide if he wanted to choke him, fuck him, or choke him while he fucked him.
Holy hell, I’m losing my fucking mind. No, this is not about me or him, this is about Autumn and making things right again.
August heard the words as they left his mouth and cursed himself. They sounded more like a plea—desperation spilling forth from a wounded animal—than that of the angry, vengeful man he’d been as of late. “You…you killed my sister.”
“Yes, I did, but she caused Maeve’s death and almost got both my sister and my husband killed. And don’t even get me started on the torture my husband endured while in captivity at the hands of the bastard you so blindly follow, Cillian.” Aiyan was on a roll and getting madder by the minute.
“What are you talking about?” August shouted.Maeve’s death? Does he think me stupid? I have my knife to her throat; she’s obviously alive and kicking.
Aiyan opened his mouth to speak, shutting it quickly when Hector glared at him. He tried to push Tanis off him but couldn’t release the iron grip the larger man had on his arm, so he allowed Tanis to pull him away from Hector, Maeve, and the crazy son of a bitch with the knife. Far enough away to set the crazy man at ease but still close enough to listen and pounce when the time was right.
“Listen to me, August, please.” Hector pleaded. “Your sister set a series of events in motion that got a lot of people killed, including herself. The man you follow, Cillian, was there the day your sister died, called to The Clearing by Autumn herself. From what I’ve been told, Cillian intended to take Aiya that day but took Kaden instead. Aiyan only speaks the truth, though it pains you, and I beg you to listen, see reason. Please, lower your dagger, let Maeve go, and come with me. I promise you protection while we try to get to the bottom of all of this.”
August had spent every single day since learning of Autumn’s death plotting, scheming, and training to kill the twin sister of the man that held the knife and ended his twin sister’s life. And now, with the opportunity in his grasp, just beyond his reach, he doubted…everything. Of course, they could be lying; he did have a dagger pressed to the neck of the woman–Oh God, Autumn, I’m so sorry–the woman his sister had loved. Loved enough to do anything for a chance at happiness with her, if what Hector was telling him was the truth, and August felt certain he was.
“I…I…what are you, I don’t…know…” Fatigue slammed into him like a train at full speed and August fell to his knees, the dagger falling to the ground. The tears fell fast and hard, clouding his vision. He could hear several voices circling the air, surrounding him. Hector was shouting at someone and August used every bit of strength he had left to lift his head, seeking out the man who’d talked him down, but something slammed into his face, and the world went black.
