Sticks and Stones

Chapter Forty-Five

A force hit Cas before he could pull his sword out of the wall. He turned—but by then it was too late. A flash of dark brown hair swathed his vision.

That was when he heard her scream.

The metallic scent of blood hit his nose.

His still heart pounded back to life, beating a tragedy within his chest. Feelings flooded his body. Anger, fear, devastation.

He stabbed her. Caspian stared at the scene in haunted disbelief. That bastard hurt my girl.

The sounds coming from Sofia's lips were agonising. When she stumbled, Cas snatched her into his arms.

What do I do?

Her body trembled in his grasp, convulsing as she writhed in pain.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!

"It hurts," She whimpered, barely a breath leaving her mouth. Had his hearing not been that of a demon's, there was no chance he'd have heard it.

Oh my God.

"What have you done?" Rosa demanded, staring at Ronan with untamed hate.

"Oh my God." Cas didn't register the words leaving his lips. Nothing but his mate made sense to him. Nothing but the fact that she was dying in his arms.

Oh my God.

"Answer me!"

"The girl got in the way," Ronan said calmly. But his jaw was set. His demeanour was cold.

"Leave."

Rosa's words were drowned amongst Sofia's screams— but they all heard her.

"What?" Ronan asked, barely a whisper.

"Leave."

"You don't want that Rosy."

"I said leave!"

Ronan cast his gaze over the scene.

Over the demon who was too busy staring at his lover in horror to understand any of what had just happened. At the demon who would make it his mission to kill him the second reality caught up.

"Please," Ronan whispered.

Rosa shouted louder. "Leave this place. Leave me. Leave my children." She took a deep, shaky breath. "I never want to see you again."

Cas didn't care for how they looked at each other. He didn't care for the crackle of Ronan leaving. All he saw was the huntress before him, bleeding out in his arms.

She's not dying.

Oh God. Oh no. That couldn't happen. It just couldn't.

She's not allowed to die.

Which meant Cas needed a plan. He needed to get moving if he planned to keep her alive.

"It hurts," She whimpered louder, hands bloodied too as Cas lifted her bridal style. She practically crumpled into his chest.

"I know baby. I know. I'm going to make this better, okay? I swear to you I'm going to make this better."

She'd taken a knife to the stomach for him.

What was she thinking?

He turned to Rosa.

"Portal jumper in my pocket. I can't grab it without—"

Without hurting Sofia from the movement.

Rosa nodded, awkwardly sifting her hand through his armour-clad clothing until she found it.