That’s what he’s never understood. He says he’s been right here for 2500 years, waiting for me to forgive him. But he’s been realms away the entire time, trapped behind his walls and his self-loathing, hating to even look at me because I remind him of his guilt and his shame.
But for her, I’ll let it go. I must.
She needs us both, and I refuse to fail her. Even if I have to drag Damrion the whole way, I refuse to let him fail her, either. He hates himself enough already.
It's time to let it go. For her sake. For our sake. Because he's right. We can't keep doing this. It’s going to destroy the best thing that’s ever happened to us—her.
Chapter Four
Damrion
“Where the fuck is my mate?” Reaper roars, driving his fist into the wall in the conference room. The wood cracks beneath the force of his blow, splintering.
“Reaper!” Rissa cries, leaping from the long table as blood immediately smears across the splintered wood from his damaged knuckles.
“Nei, Valkyrie." Dax grabs her before she can rush to his side, gently drawing her back into his arms. “Leave him be.”
“But—”
“Nei,” her mate says, his tone firm.
Rissa sighs, her shoulders drooping. She slowly reclaims her seat, watching as Reaper’s shoulders shake with the force of his grief. Tori is missing—vanished into thin air.
We suspect one of the Blooded warriors we invited into our counsel betrayed us. He opened a portal and carried her through while we were out searching for the Valkyrie Abigail saw in her vision. We’ve been betrayed. Worse, the Forsaken have access to portals. They can open them anywhere at any time.
My heart trembles with fear for Abigail.
I know Adriel shares my concern. I see it burning in his eye and stamped across his face. He’s terrified for her.
“She’s in Eitr.”
Everyone glances toward the door to find Abigail standing in the entryway, watching Reaper. Even with tears shimmering in her lashes and her face pale and drawn, she’s beautiful—like the dolls made of porcelain that humans cherish.
Her simple T-shirt skims her generous curves, hinting at the lush body beneath. She’s soft and round everywhere, so warm and alive. My hands twitch, aching with the desire to feel her beneath them again, coming apart for me and Adriel as she did in the middle of the night.
She steps into the room, the harsh overhead light casting a halo around her fiery hair. Those striking blue eyes, always so round and expressive, hold a depth of wisdom far beyond her years. She’s seen far too much death and pain, but she’s still the brightest Light I’ve ever seen.
“You’ve seen her,” Reaper rasps, spinning to face her, hope and desolation warring on his face.
Adriel and I share a look. Is this what she was hiding then? Is this why she was so upset last night? She knew Tori would be taken?
She shakes her head silently, holding out her hand. Only then do I notice the paper clutched between her fingers.
“I found this,” she whispers.
Reaper grabs it, his eyes scanning over the paper. “Nei,” he chokes, his hands shaking as it flutters to the floor. “Nei.”
I lean down, snatching it up.
“What does it say?” Rissa asks.
My blood runs cold as I read it. Nei. Gods. They can’t do this. They can’t ask it of us. And yet...they are.
“They want me in exchange for Tori and the other Valkyrie,” Abigail whispers. “If you turn me over, they’ll let them go.”
“No!” Adriel shouts, jumping to his feet. “No!”
Reaper falls to his knees, his head in his hands as I choke on fury. To save mine and Adriel’s mate, I damn his. To save his, I damn mine and Adriel’s. It’s an impossible choice. It’s no choice at all.
“We can’t leave them there,” Abigail says, tears slipping down her cheeks. “If it’s my life for theirs, I choose theirs.”
Adriel stalks toward her, his one eye wild. His pain flows down the bond between us, searing me. “Nei, Valkyrie. You don't get to make that choice.”
“But—”
“Nei,” he snarls.
“He’s right.”
Everyone glances at Reaper. Tears fall freely down his cheeks. He doesn’t try to hide them. If the capture of a mate by pure fucking evil isn’t worthy of tears, what is?
“We won’t trade one life for another, Valkyrie. Not even to save my mate.” He hauls himself to his feet, his expression one of pure agony. “But I won’t leave her to die alone. I’m going to Eitr. If I can’t free her, I’ll die at her side where I belong.”
“Reaper, nei,” Malachi groans, the first words the normally talkative Fae has spoken in half an hour. The beads in his braids click as he shakes his head. “They’ll kill you on sight.”
“Then I die on sight,” Reaper growls, rage simmering in his eyes. “But she won’t spend a second longer there alone. I refuse to allow it.”
Malachi sighs, his blue eyes falling closed before he hauls himself to his feet. “Then we die together, brother. I’m going with you.”
