I should have trusted my instincts and let him go. It would have kept him safe.
Now it’s a horrifying mistake I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life.
What in the hell was I thinking?
Chapter 24
Tick Tock
The floorboards from the room above groan, snapping the beams and buckling a handful of them inward. It’s only a matter of time before the upper level collapses completely. My body quakes uncontrollably as I cling to Wade, wishing this was over. If the Moirai want to wipe out the Blackwood family so badly, just do it already.
I’m ready to die. At least I’ll be with Wade.
Suddenly, the raging wind and cacophony beyond comes to a complete halt and the room goes deafeningly silent. Too terrified to look up, I clutch Wade closer, rocking with his body for fear of what might be on the other side of my eyelids.
Are the Fates here to accept my challenge? What will they do with us?
Footsteps creak on the stairs above us and my head snaps up. Opening my eyes, it’s as if the entire room has been put on pause. Every rock, board, nail, and granule of sand is suspended in mid-rotation. Even Wade’s jacket floats at an odd angle in the mixture of it, almost as if it’s suspended in water.
My ears still ring from the commotion, but I swear I hear movement and voices, but I can’t be sure. I watch the ceiling above me, waiting for the shoe to drop. Or at the very least, the craziness to resume. There’s no way the Lemure would stop for the fun of it.
“This looks like a death trap. Are you sure the stairs are secure?” a male voice says from somewhere above me.
“For godsake, he’s got this. Would you just go?” An air of irritation filters from a second, female voice.
Narrowing my gaze, I hold my breath and wait.
Two sets of feet make their way down the steps, each one descending with a little bit of caution. Clutching Wade close, my heart pounds in my ears.
A rush of relief sweeps over me and I collapse back into Wade as Dominic and Cat round the bottom of the rickety steps. Cat’s eyes brighten when she sees me, but she twists back toward the stairs.
“They’re here—” Cat calls out.
Dominic races forward, dropping to his knees beside me. As he takes in the situation with Wade, his face goes ashen, but he doesn’t say a word. His eyebrows just tip up in the middle in a silent question.
“Is he okay?” Cat asks, her eyes full of worry. Gently, she reaches out and runs her hand along my upper arm.
I look from Wade, back to her, tears blurring my vision. I shake my head. “I don’t…I’m not sure.”
Cat settles back onto her feet, releasing a slow breath.
“Come on, we need to get you both out of here. Colton’s not gonna be able to hold all of this back for long,” Dominic says, jumping into action. As he stands, he reaches out a hand for me to latch onto.
As smoothly as possible, I release my grip on Wade, allowing Dominic and Cat to pull me to my feet. My body aches and my legs feel like they’re going to give out at any moment.
“Are you hurt?” Cat asks, her dark eyes full of concern. Her hair looks different from when I last saw her, braided in dreadlocks and tied into a sophisticated-looking ponytail.
I shake my head, unable to get my brain to form any more words.
“Can you make it up the stairs on your own? Cat and I can manage Wade,” Dominic says, his white eyebrows tugging inward.
“I’m not leaving him,” I say, jutting out my chin defiantly. My body continues to shake uncontrollably, but I reach for him.
Cat grabs hold of my arms and forces me to look her in the eyes. “You’re too shook up, Autumn. Let us help you. Okay? We got this. I promise.”
I glance back at Wade’s pale face. He needs help, and fast. He’s not going to get it bleeding on the floor of the resurrection chamber. “Okay.” I nod.
Dominic grabs my hand, leading me over to the edge of the stairs. “Stay to the wall side. Colton’s promised me he’s got them steady, but no reason to test that theory.”
My eyes follow the steps up to the small door at the top. Most of them look like they’re barely hanging on.
Suddenly, Diana Hawthorne crouches in the doorway. “Well, what in the hell are you waiting for? We don’t have all damn day. Come on, guys. Clock’s ticking.” She holds out a hand as if I could reach it from where I’m standing.
I nod, leaning against the stone wall as I begin my ascent. The stairs feel oddly secure despite not being attached to anything that supports them on the one side. But the steps with the missing treads are a pain. Cat and Dominic follow me, taking their time and maneuvering with care. Dominic has his arms locked beneath Wade’s as he carries his upper body, while Cat carries his feet. My legs are wobbly, but I push myself through until I reach the doorway. Diana latches a firm grasp around my forearm as I extend my hand to her.
She pulls me into my bedroom, which looks again like it’s been tipped on end. There’s broken glass, wood, and items scattered all over the place. My bed is cattywampus, resting on its side against the window seat, and there’s an enormous crack down the wall behind me.
To my left, Colton stands completely still, his arms raised out in front of him and fingers splayed. His eyes are a bright, glowing white, without a single hint of the normal deep brown.
“Coming through,” Dominic calls out behind me.
I step out of the way, rushing over to Wade as they enter the room with him.
“We need to get out of this house. The manifestation is only
