Between Shadow & Ruin (Fangs & Fae Saga Book 2)

seventy-five.

My hand tingled as the magic coursed through it, the thorns left in my hand were pushing themselves out. Val, weakened by the magic she had been forcing herself to perform, had passed out in Zane's arms. He laid her down on the ground and surveyed her body. I stumbled over my feet as I walked over to the bench to sit down – my head was pounding, and my vision was blurring.

"Liz?" I heard Celia's voice say. "Liz, are you okay?" I blinked my eyes; I was suddenly looking up at the sky. Celia was kneeling over me on one side, Zane on the other. Pax handed his mother a bowl. I tried to sit up, but I felt her hand on my shoulder, forcing me to stay down.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You passed out," Zane said. I could hear a sense of worry in his voice.

"Well, that explains why I'm on the ground. Did it work? Is the bush destroyed?"

"Yes, but I don't care about the stupid roses," Zane said. "I care that I just watched you fucking drop to ground. What were you thinking?"

"I wanted this to be over. Is Val okay?"

"She's resting," Zane said, looking somewhere behind me. "She's fine, just overexerted." Zane sniffled, and looked away from me for a second.

"What is it?" He didn't answer me. "Zane, what's wrong?" I looked over to Celia who had caught the tear in her eye before it fell. I attempted to sit up again, but I couldn't. "Please don't tell me..."

"No," Zane said.

"...The baby?" He finally made eye contact with me. I felt my eyes instantly water and a pain surge through my chest. "...No..." I said, softly. I closed my eyes, feeling like I'd fucked up – the pain in my chest rivaled the pain I'd felt when Odette died – I felt ready to Rip through the entire fae realm. I'd fucked up everything. I was hasty, and didn't think. Just like I'd done when Val became immortal. Just like I've always fucking done. I never fucking think and it just cost me everything!

I breathed deeply, trying to push the negative thoughts of my Ripper away. I'll be alright. It'll suck... but I'll be alright. Val, Zane, Chris, Odie, Ava, Noah... they all need me. My breathing was quick – I was beginning to hyperventilate.

I can't lose it.

I can't lose it!

I can't lose it!

I CAN'T LOSE IT!

"Liz?" I heard Celia's voice say. "Liz, are you okay?" I blinked my eyes; I was looking up at the sky. Celia was kneeling over me on one side, Zane on the other. Pax handed his mother a bowl. I tried to sit up, but I felt her hand on my shoulder, forcing me to stay down. Huh?

"What happened?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.

"You passed out," Zane said. I could hear a sense of worry in his voice.

"I... what?" I ran my hand down my body, feeling for the baby. "Is... is everything okay? Is the rose bush destroyed?"

"Yes, but I don't care about the stupid roses," Zane said. "I care that I just watched you fucking drop to ground. What were you thinking?"

"I wanted this to be over... Is Val okay?"

"She's resting," Zane said, looking somewhere behind me. "She's fine, just overexerted." Zane sniffled, running his hand through his hair. Wait...This felt weird. I looked behind me, to see Val lying on the ground, glowing lightly. I focused my touch on my stomach, I could feel the baby move under my touch, and I could hear their heartbeat. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Liz, what is it?"