Anything.
Images flashed through his mind as he remembered his sister's death just the day before at the hands of the Daimons. Unimaginable pain tore through him.
Fang had to be alive. He had to.
"Please, God," he breathed as he closed the distance between them. He couldn't lose his brother.
Not like this Fang's eyes were open, staring unseeingly up at the full moon, which would have allowed them to time-jump out of this swamp had they not both been wearing the collars.
There were open bite wounds all over him.
A deep, profound grief tore through Vane, splintering his heart into pieces.
"C'mon, Fang, don't be dead," he said, his voice breaking as he forced himself not to cry. Instead, he snarled out, "Don't you dare die on me, you asshole."
He pulled his brother to him and discovered that Fang wasn't dead. He was still breathing and shaking uncontrollably. Shallow and raspy, the hollow sound of Fang's breaths was a symphony to Vane's ears.
His tears broke as relief pierced him. He cradled Fang gently in his arms. "C'mon, Fang," he said in the stillness. "Say something stupid for me."
But Fang didn't speak. He just lay there in complete shock as he shook in Vane's arms.
At least he was alive.
For the moment.
Vane ground his teeth as anger consumed him. He had to get his brother out of here. Had to find someplace safe for both of them.
If there was such a place.
With his rage unleashed, he did the impossible, he tore Fang's collar from his throat with his bare hands. Fang turned instantly into a wolf.
Still, Fang didn't come around. He didn't blink or whine.
Vane swallowed the painful lump in his throat and fought the tears that stung his eyes.
"It's okay, little brother," he whispered to Fang as he picked him up from the foul water. The weight of the brown wolf was excruciating, but Vane didn't care.
He paid no attention to his body, which protested carrying Fang.
So long as he had breath in his body, no one would ever hurt anyone Vane cared for again.
And he would bring death to anyone who ever tried.
Lilac and Lace Boutique on Iberville
The French Quarter
Eight months later
Stunned, Bride McTierney stared at the letter in her hand and blinked. She blinked again.
It couldn't really say what she thought it said.
Could it?
Was it a joke?
But as she read it again for the fourth time, she knew it wasn't. The rotten, cowardly SOB had actually broken up with her via her own FedEx account.