Changed

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Slate shoved me aggressively aside, a very confused Novem flying out of my arms as I watched Quinn's boyfriend sprint away. My voice coarsely cried his name as I realized what he was going to do. 

He was running towards the brink of the mountain to fatally jump off.

My eyes frantically found Alec's and he bolted towards the suicidal man, tackling him barely a meter away from the edge of the rock. I too ran at them, Hail following my heels closely. Slate's strength swiftly overpowered Alec as he threw him off and lunged for the emptiness that would plunge him into the deadly forest below.

"Quinn will never forgive you," I screamed at Slate, relief flowing through me as he paused mid-spurt, allowing me to catch up with him. 

I forced myself in the small but crucial space between Slate and the rock's end. "We'll get her back. I love her too, we're not letting her slip away okay? Malus won't hurt her. I think he wants the baby, and he's not getting it if the mother's unfit. You dying isn't going to fix this, Quinn needs you. Malus isn't keeping her." I strained to get my words out, my breath shaking as I desperately hoped he wouldn't dodge me and jump. He seemed to lean towards the sharp edge of the mountain, but finally glanced at me as my heart stopped.

Slate's dark eyes closed, and his hands ran over his head as I let out an exasperated sigh of relief. I grabbed his arm gently, slowly guiding him away from the peak. He didn't speak as we reached Isamu, who had dismissed the rest of the Changed until further notice. I didn't take my eyes off of him, terrified that he'd make another break for the cliff. 

"I suggest we get a good night's sleep. In the morning we will discuss Quinn." Isamu spoke as if he were king, and I disagreed. Alec yawned in reply and started towards his tent, but my firm hand on his arm caused him to turn back. 

"I suggest we discuss Quinn now. While we lay sleeping she is god knows where probably petrified. If you think for a second I'm going to be able to sleep while she's with that thing, you're crazy. She's not staying there. Over my dead body."

Isamu seemed to smile at my opposition, but would not oblige. "You are so much like your mother princess," I ignored the title he used and glared at him while he continued, even though the mention of the parent I didn't remember struck a twinge of sorrow into my heart. "We need our rest. If Malus wants her child, she will come to no harm for at least nine months. Planning will be more successful with a well-rested mind. I very strongly urge that we all wait until morning." His eyes were wise, and I nodded in defeat. He had a point, Quinn was presumably safe for now and we were all extremely exhausted.

Slate and I stayed together that night. Neither of us wanted to be alone, and frankly I didn't trust Slate to be friendless in his state of mind. We had to look out for each other. I was terribly drained from today's events but my mind kept flicking back to Quinn. I wondered where she was, how she was. Was she okay?

Who was I kidding; of course she wasn't. I didn't let my thoughts dawdle on her, I knew my paranoia would cause unrest for both Slate and I. I glanced over at the man next to me while Novem snuggled against my thigh. His face was utterly expressionless, but his eyes were glassy and somber. He hadn't spoken, nor had he broken his gaze into the sky.

"She'll be okay Slate. She's a tough one," I said softly, leaning my head against his arm in consolation. He had no reply, but let my head rest as I involuntarily fell asleep. 

--

I awakened with a start, remembering yesterday's events as soon as my eyes opened. Isamu's shadow loomed over me as he held out his hand to help me up.