two paws on my back.
“Ahhh,” I screamed, raising my hands instinctively to break my fall but aiming them right for the wolf before me. My opened palm, shredded and oozing with the spellbreaker mixture filling it, brushed against Clive’s neck as I half fell on him.
The mixture seeped in—a blue searing light flared, and then Justice was pulling me back out of the kill circle.
‘It’s gone!’ I shouted.
Rage pushed off, using his last bit of strength, and clamped his teeth around Clive’s throat.
His teeth sank into Clive’s neck and somehow held.
Both wolves tumbled to the ground, and with one heaving move, Rage tore through Clive’s neck, shaking him like a ragdoll.
Blood sprayed with each of Clive’s final heartbeats, the force waning with each beat until the crimson stream became a trickle.
He was dead.
The crowd burst into thunderous applause as Rage dropped Clive’s limp body. Mallory’s grief-filled screams echoed throughout the space.
I sank to my knees with relief and faced my mate just as Rage’s head hit the carpet—
And he didn’t move.
Terror ripped through me, and I screamed.
Chapter 15
Kneeling on the carpet, I scooped Rage’s head into my lap as tears burned my eyes. I blinked, my mind reeling, but then Justice thrust a bottle of mage wine in front of me.
“Healing elixir,” he snarled, his voice barely human.
Right. I’m glad someone was focused.
While Justice poured the elixir down his brother’s throat, I clung to my mate and let my tears fall unchecked.
‘Don’t you dare die on me,’ I hissed at him.
He groaned, stirring in my arms. ‘No intention of it, love.’
Relief flooded me as Rage sat up. I tackle-hugged him to the ground, bursting into a fresh round of tears.
All around us, a murmur of congratulations filled the air.
My gaze roamed over my mate: his face, neck, arms … all of the wounds were healing.
“You okay?” I clung to him tightly.
“I’d be better if I had a kiss.”
I leaned in, and Rage pressed his lips to mine.
The cheers turned to awws. I pulled away, my entire body feeling like a smile.
Rage pressed his forehead to mine. ‘I love you, Nai Crescent.’
I nodded, pressing my head against his. ‘I love you too. Tonight … we should complete our bond.’
He jerked back like I’d stung him. Then his green eyes went half-lidded. ‘Complete it like…?’
‘I’m ready. So ready.’ V-card was getting cashed in once and for all.
Rage wet his lips. ‘I guess. You don’t have to beg.’
I smacked his shoulder, and he winced.
Oops.
‘Let’s get this show over,’ Rage said, climbing to his feet with a groan. Then, he pulled me up next to him and slid his arm around my waist.
A female wailed, and my gaze bounced to Mallory, losing her mind with grief as well as the rest of Daybreak.
“Now what?” I asked.
He squeezed my waist and then turned to the Daybreak clan. “Who will be your new alpha? Who is next in line?“
To my surprise, John stepped forward. “I’ll take my rightful place if you’ll allow me and my mate to remain together.”
Halle-frickin-leujah.
“Absolutely,” Rage said.
John faced the rest of Daybreak and said, “Unless any of you want to challenge me?”
I silently cheered when the entire clan took a knee and bowed their heads. Even Mallory. I suspected it wouldn’t be long before someone tried to challenge his place.
Then, John faced Rage. Taking a knee, the alpha of Daybreak bowed his head, “As alpha of Daybreak, we pledge fealty to Courage Midnight as alpha king.”
The room exploded into cheers, and I sagged with relief.
It was done. My mate was alpha king. Now we could finally move on.
Someone tapped on my shoulder, and I turned to see Reyna. Her face was ashen, beaded with sweat as she spoke in a shaky whisper. “Master Geoff needs to speak with you now.”
Oh, yes. He’d been trying to tell me something last night in the barn. I’d forgotten.
“I’ll be right back.” I kissed Rage on the cheek and followed Reyna to the stage. As we passed, I noticed Kian speaking hurriedly to a young man, the spitting image of himself. My stomach churned, and then I stumbled as my gaze zeroed in on his robes. Seafoam green.
“Who is that?” I asked, my voice hoarse with shock. Please … somehow, let me be wrong.
Reyna’s attention followed my gaze, and a low growl emanated from her throat. “Julian. Kian’s heir.”
I was about to ask more when she opened a door at the back wall of the stage and went through.
Okay … weird. Apparently, this meeting was super-secret