I helped Carmen remove Marcus from the wall. His body was
heavy and I could smell the decay from his death permeate the room. Once he was
down, I tugged down a curtain, covering his body. “I’m sorry, Marcus,” I
whispered, saying a prayer for him. “So sorry.”
“Can you still feel Edward?” Carmen asked, her neck wrapped
in bandage, but it was still bleeding. “Hear his thoughts.”
“His mind is closed to me, but I can feel him. He’s angry,
with a touch of fear,” I whispered. “But, he’s beyond angry. I can feel his
rage and contempt for everything that happened here.” I was weary, sore and
drained from using so much power. I heard an angry screech and Liam flew into
the throne room as a thunderbird. In his talons, he held something. He hovered
as he put that something down. I recognized her immediately. “Rose!” I gasped,
falling to my knees, taking her broken human body into my arms.
Liam transformed and he crouched next to me. “I was flying
to follow Lord Edward and I saw her running back to the castle. Or rather,
stumbling. I smelled the blood on her and she collapsed. I picked her up and
carried her here,” Liam said. “She needs medical attention.”
“Get Emmett,” I said, cradling Rose’s human form in my lap.
She was beat to hell and I could smell Jacob all over her. Inside her. He’d
done to her what he did to me, but it was far more brutal because I could smell
blood, too. Emmett came barreling into the throne room. His face was haunted
and torn, anger flashing in his eyes. He made his way toward me. He picked up
his mate’s tiny hand.
“Was she …?” he trailed off. He inhaled and I heard him
growl lowly. “Oh, Rosie …” He blinked to me and his eyes were filled with
sorrow. “How?”
“Patience, Emmett,” I said, squeezing his massive shoulder.
As I did so, I felt a terrible pain rip through me. I gasped and clutched my
stomach. “Edward …”
“What is it, sweetheart?” Carmen asked, crouching next to
me.
“He’s fighting Jacob,” I choked out, the pain deepening and
I groaned. I closed my eyes, forcing myself into his mind. I saw him angrily
swipe at Jacob, causing my ex-husband and monster to bleed profusely, but he
was still strong, fighting back. His powerful jaws latched on to Edward’s neck.
I gasped, clutching my own neck. I focused my energy, my power on my connection
with Edward. With a growl, I found myself out of the throne room and at a cliff
face. Jacob, in his wolf form, black and menacing, was fighting a snow-white
wolf. I could see both of their coats were covered with blood, but Edward’s
coat was more apparent with his white fur. But, I couldn’t tell if it was his
blood or cast-offs from Jacob.
They tumbled and Edward landed on his back, a tortured whelp
coming from his throat. I held up my hands, ready to destroy my ex-husband, but
Edward hopped back up, limping a bit before attacking Jacob again. He swiped
his front paws. His claws were glittering with frozen magic, causing immediate
frost bite on Jacob’s chest.
Jacob, in his wolf form
Edward, in his wolf form
