Page 127 of Burdened Bonds
Sayonara.
Shame, felt like I was only just getting started …
48
Rhi
Pressure squeezesagainst the sides of my skull, and the sound and light around us bends and warps. I hang on to Tristan’s arm with all my might, feeling Renzo’s fingers tight in my hand, and praying with everything I have that the other two – Stone and Spencer – are with us too.
The oxygen in my lungs runs out and there’s no air to breathe and just when I think I can stand it no longer, we land with a thump on the hard kitchen floor of the mansion.
“Rhianna!” I hear Azlan call and then a pair of strong arms catch me as I sway on my feet.
I blink open my eyes and as my vision swims into focus, sweep my gaze around the room, desperately counting, checking everyone is with us.
Renzo stands in front of me, swaying too. Tristan ishunched over his knees, retching, and Stone cradles Spencer in his arms, Winnie already hunched over him, examining his injuries.
“Spencer!” I cry, struggling in Azlan’s arms.
“It’s okay, Rhi,” Stone says. “He’s going to be just fine. We’re going to sort him out.”
I go to step towards him, to help them, but Azlan holds me tight.
“Just take a minute, Rhi. Just breathe.” I do as he says, my racing heart rate slowing in the warmth of his embrace. “You did it,” he says, kissing my crown. “Although what took you so long? I was beginning to worry.”
“Things didn’t quite go according to plan,” I admit.
“I hate to say I told you so,” Stone mutters, lifting Spencer’s face to take a look at his nose. “But I most definitely did tell you so.”
“And I definitely toldyoushe could do it,” Azlan says with pride in his voice.
“With Tristan’s help,” I say, and Azlan glances towards his cousin. “Where’s Pip?” I ask and I hear a squeak from Renzo’s ankles. I swing my gaze that way, in time to see the assassin sway left and then right.
“Fuck,” he mutters before slamming down backward onto the floor, his head hitting the ground with a thwack that makes me wince.
“Renzo!” I cry as Pip butts his snout against the man’s cheek.
I struggle free from Azlan’s arms, rushing down to his side.
“Renzo, are you okay?” He stares up at the ceiling. His eyes unblinking and unmoving. Blank. His chest still. And I can’t feel his magic – usually so vibrant, so chaotic, so alive. It’s not there. I can’t feel it at all.
“Renzo?!” I cry again, this time with more urgency, shaking at his shoulder.
Nothing. No response. And though I search for his magic, I can’t find it. He’s drained, completely drained.
“Azlan!” I scream. “Azlan!” I shake Renzo harder. “He’s not moving. He’s not moving.” I lay my head above his mouth and will his breath to hit my cheek, to feel it rustle against my skin. Nothing. “He’s not breathing. Winnie! Winnie! What do we do? Oh my god, what do we do? His magic’s gone.”
Which means …
Renzo is dead.
I scurry backwards, away from him, away from his lifeless body.
The world swoops and swerves and I can feel it spinning away from me, tipping me over into despair, like it did before, like it did when …
No, no, this can’t be happening. Not to him. He’s unstoppable. Im-fucking-mortal.
Faces spin in front of me, voices rise and fall. I don’t understand. I don’t know what’s happening. I curl myself up tight into a ball, pain coursing through my body.
