He cupped her face. “I thought you were faking it when you called me, that you were giving me some kind of sign, that you needed help…if I’d known…” His expression became pained. “I’m sorry,” he whispered so softly only she would hear.
She turned as someone else walked around the corner, tall, so tall, and so incredibly pale. Luna froze and tried to pull away from Spencer, but he held on. She glanced around, but no one was reacting. It was as if they couldn’t see him striding toward her.
The air around the tall male rippled like heatwaves. She recognized the power instantly. This was the male who had taken her brother’s power. She was about to yell, to let Gunner know, but the male lifted his head—
Violet eyes identical to her own stared back. Her legs went weak, but Spencer held her up.
“Luna?” Gunner said, moving toward her.
But it was too late, the male…her brother, lifted his arms out toward her and she and Spencer were surrounded by his power, pulled into it.
Gunner yelled and ran toward her, the other knights doing the same. But they couldn’t see her. Gunner reached for her, but he couldn’t touch her. Mayhem erupted around them as the knights and Grace’s crew searched frantically for her.
Ronan moved closer, his eyes never leaving hers. She stared up at him in shock when he stopped in front of her, when he looked down, his face so familiar, so precious. He was a man now, but he was her brother, she was in no doubt.
He cupped the side of her face, skin cool. “Sister.”
“You’re alive?” She grabbed his arms as more happy tears began to flow.
“Yes.” He looked down at her, his expression smooth, not a trace of outward emotion showing. Just the way she used to be. “They took you from us. I’ve come to take you home.”
“No, they didn’t take me. Gunner rescued me.”
“That’s what they want you to believe, but they only want you for your power, Luna,” he said and glanced at Gunner. Her knight was close, close enough to touch but impossible to reach. He was yelling…no, roaring her name, his expression lined with rage, filled with pain, with anguish.
Panic built inside her. “Please, let me go, I need to go to him,” she pleaded.
Ronan shook his head, his gaze searching hers. “You’re confused. Dhampir aren’t supposed to feel, Luna. They broke you.” He motioned to Gunner again. “He broke you.”
Gunner roared, the sound all demon.
Luna tried to run to him, but her brother scooped her up easily and strode toward the mouth of the alley. She screamed and fought, but it was no use.
Ronan turned the corner and she lost sight of him.
She lost sight of Gunner.
Her heart was a dead lifeless husk in her chest, but somehow it still managed to shatter.
Chapter 27
Gunner’s roar filled the alleyway, the power behind it shaking him to his bones, rattling his fucking skull. His brain short-circuited and his fist smashed into the brick wall in front of him. He was going to tear it down, tear it all down until he found her.
His fist connected with the brick, again and again, skin splitting, bone crunching, blood everywhere. A frenzy of desperation and anger making it impossible to stop. He called her name until his throat was raw.
But she was gone, oh fuck, she was gone. The cry that left him as he threw another punch couldn’t be him. It couldn’t be. His demon had control, and there was no stopping him. They wanted her back. They wanted her back right fucking now.
Strong arms came around him from behind, pulling him back, or trying to. Then more, hands at his shoulders, around his chest. Someone stepped in front of him, he had no idea who, all he could see was red. He smashed his head forward, connecting with something. He growled and tried to fight his way free of whoever was holding him.
The punch to his jaw sent a shockwave through him, enough that the red receded. Rocco stood in front of him, nose busted and leaking blood.
His brother gripped his face in his big, rough hands and got nose-to-nose close. “Stop. You need to fucking stop. Now. I know what you’re feeling, brother, you know I do. But we can’t look for her when we’re trying to stop you from killing yourself.”
Gunner jerked back, pulling away from Chaos and Zenon who held him from behind, and staggered.