Atonement - Book Four (Man x Man)

Chapter 42

I mutter the spell quickly, spreading my fingers through the soft fur on his forehead. I'm met with that intense, light gaze, peering back at me as I wait for something to happen only to see he looks exactly the same. I feel nothing, he is unmoving. "Perhaps you are truly drained and can't perform the spell?"

 I think it over, searching the wolf's expression in front of me as I grasp his face in my hands. 

"You need to get out of here." I plead with him, we aren't going to win, if any of us should live on it should be him. 

"I'm not going anywhere."

I grit my teeth. "You said it yourself, you're useless in this kind of combat. You need to go!" I throw my arms around his neck as we listen to her crawl her way out of the depths of the rock pit. The groans of the insane surrounding us. 

Loan and Penelope scoot closer, a concerned hiss from Lipa rolls from her throat as the world begins to close in. I have one last-ditch effort to save us. I clutch the book to my chest and lift my gaze. "Can you be yourself? Please? If I'm going to die I want to die with you."

He changes before me and I trace my fingers over his chest, "You're not going to die. We're going to figure this out."

I can't help but smile. "Big change from wanting to die just a few days ago."

He makes a face. "A moment of weakness, you know every part of me, it would seem."

I touch his cheek, tracing my thumb down to his lips. It's time to repay my debt, repay my family's debt and do what must be done. "I'm going to really miss you." I breathe. Stretching up on my toes, I kiss him, ignoring the eye rolls and commentary.

 I kiss him as if I will never kiss him again because if I'm successful, I won't be coming back. "Promise me you will find happiness?" I murmur against his lips.

"I've found it." That will have to be good enough. Deeping the kiss, I memorize every last bit of him before lowering down to my heels. The lines of his face, that defiant expression, taking everything in. 

"Hold onto him, Loan." I command my friend who looks reluctant to obey me. 

"Nic, as much as I would like to pretend, I don't think anyone but Lipa could stop him from doing what he wants." Loan gives us both a cautious glance and I take a step back. 

"Just do it." I swallow hard as I watch his expression change and he realizes my plan. The ground trembles as my sister rises to her feet. "Stay here. I have to do this."

"Nic. Don't you dare." Verando threatens me. 

I freeze his feet to the floor, knowing Loan can release him if they have to make an escape. 

I swallow back the emotion, this is the right choice, I'm okay with this. "I love you." I mouth to him as I march towards Corina. Her frame is bent and broken, her skin burnt and marred, yet she stands before me because the dark magic has consumed her. She is no longer a human, or a mortal, she is almost an element all on her own and only magic can defeat magic.

My father told me in one of my first meetings with him in the book that there was a fail-safe. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage. She shows me her gnarled teeth as she takes a step forward. 

"Let my friends go and I will give you this," I tell her point-blank.

"What are you doing?!" Penelope screams at me. Loan puts his hand on her shoulder, practically reading my thoughts.

I hear my warlord struggling against his frozen shackles and clench my jaw, if he gets to me I'll lose my leverage. "You wanted the book, here it is. Take it." I snap.