United. (Book 5 of the Lupus Antiqua Series)

Abby kissed Endymion gently and snuggled into him. He held her in his arms before their small fire and she thought there might not be anything quite so wonderful as being snuggled up in her mate's arms.

It was rare, this moment of peace. The past few months had been nothing but training, and drama and slowly growing dread that was spreading like the veins of a leaf under, over, and through everything in existence. She could even feel it in the magical realm that every True Witch could feel.

Ramaah, by his existence alone was changing the balance of the world and the way the magic flowed in it. He hadn't even truly started to wreak his havoc yet. He'd simply lost his temper and shredded some poor young man right in front of his mate.

The only bright side to that, was that by all accounts, the woman, Cadee, had abandoned the Nephilim King. She was holed up in Russia now, with a vampire of all creatures.

But the Nephilim's actions had sparked action amongst the True Witches. The waiting calm had broken and now everyone was gearing up for battle. No one doubted that it would come soon. No one doubted that it would be bloody and that there would be great losses on all sides.

So Abby felt justified in taking this time to simply enjoy her mate. Her mate who she'd never thought she would have. Her mate who looked at her like she was the sun, moon, and stars because he never thought he would get another chance either.

But the forces of the universe moved in mysterious ways, a fact that Abby knew all too well. She knew that the whims of fate could change without warning. If Ramaah won this war, it was very likely that no one here, none of the witches, werewolves, or beloved friends and mates would live to see the other side of it.

He was a being without mercy in him. The only hope anyone had was for his mate to get in his way, and from what the Wyrd sisters told everyone, Cadee was a sheltered, frail girl. How could someone like that ever hope to stand against such evil?

How could any of them?

But still, despite the odds, they were all going to fight. And fight hard, because there wasn't a single person amongst them who thought the cause was unworthy.

And she felt warmth in her spirit when she considered that she would never be fighting alone. She had the other War Witches. She had her mate. She had the whole of True Witch society, and the majority of werewolf kind.

***

Cadee Conway

She heard him walking forward, felt him crouch in front of her.

“Cadee, look at me.” Ramaah demanded.

She didn’t even flinch, just stayed frozen. In her mind, she was screaming for someone to come and rescue her, but no one was coming. There was no one alive or dead who could battle this creature. She’d never ask anyone to die for her. Never. Not like Mike.

She knew he didn’t hear any of this in her thoughts because everything raging inside of her remained locked behind a wall in her mind.

The storm got worse, thunder booming in the distance. She was soaked. The thunder roared again, so close it hurt her ears. The storm inside was feeding the storm outside. How fitting.

She felt him reaching for her, despising how her skin tingled in anticipation, how the bond between them flared brightly inside her.

No! Get away! She thought. Lightning struck, just in front of him, sending him reeling back. She looked up, surprised. The storm was answering her, the elements sticking up for her when no one else could. She stood up, facing her nightmare.

He’d filled out and healed. Someone had cut his hair for him. He looked much better than he had actually. She looked far worse, but she didn’t care. All she could see was Mike’s mangled body when she looked at him.

Everything in her ached for him, to be near him, and everything in her screamed in denial of that. If she called for help, he’d probably just destroy anyone who came. Everyone she loved was in danger because of her. That’s when she finally admitted to herself the truth she’d been denying. Mike’s death was her fault. She’d invited Ramaah to the party. She’d freed the monster. All of this was her fault. That’s when the wall in her mind cracked.

Ramaah jerked as if she’d slapped him, sensing the change. She didn’t care.

Her fault, all her fault. Mike’s mangled corpse, his screams as he’d died in pain and torment, the horror and mourning of his family; her failure. Everyone who died after Mike, every family who lost a mother, sister, brother, father, etc. was all her fault. Every death was on her hands. She was going to drown in a river of blood, and it was her fault, all her fault. She looked at Ramaah again and next to him she saw Mike’s specter.

“It’s all my fault, all my fault.” She cried, tears soaking her face.

“What are you saying Cadee. You did nothing...” Ramaah stepped forward.

“I’m so sorry Mike. I’m so so sorry. You’ll never know how sorry I am. It’s my fault. I’m so sorry Mike. You died in such pain.” The tears came harder now. “I hear you screaming every night. I’m sorry I didn’t try to stop him! I was so scared. I was a coward. I’m sorry Mike! I wish I could bring you back. I’d save you with my own life if I could. I’m so sorry.” All of the Nephilim were watching, staring in confusion at the specter she was talking to. Could no one see him? It didn’t matter. She could. He murmured to her in the storm.

She nodded.

“Yes. Yes, you’re right. Can you forgive me?” She listened for a moment. “Yes. To spare all of them what you suffered, I will gladly do it.” The specter stepped forward and took her hand, smiling reassuringly at her. She followed him to the edge of the flat space where he jumped, grinning as if to say, ‘see, nothing to it.’ “All my fault.” She murmured. And then she stepped off of the roof of Vairos's castle and embraced the free fall that would lead to oblivion.