Wicked Destiny - By Tiffany Stevens Page 0,81

stream down my face. I felt it coming up my back and outlining my tattoo, turning the white to black so that I only had black wings. I knew I had made the wrong decision thinking I could control everything, but I was never in control. It was always Viktor coaxing me. Within those final moments of actually being me, myself, I thought about Shay and all the memories we made together. I thought about Mindy and Dale, wondered what would happen to them. I even thought about Jared and hoped he would finally be happy. Most of all, I thought about Declan. I thought about the past and a future that would never be. As I clung to memories of Declan, I could feel the Darkness slowly creeping in and I resisted for as long as I could before there was nothing else there for me to hold onto.

Then there was a bright light and the sounding of a horn on the other side of the clearing.

Chapter 25

DECLAN

As the clearing came into view, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Sloane was enclosed in a circle of demons as Viktor transferred his energy to her. What I couldn’t understand was why he was doing that. And then it all became clear.

He was Darkness himself.

All this time he had fooled us all. I heard Sloane screaming for him to stop as she collapsed to the ground begging once more. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t move. I should’ve been in there fighting for her, but she chose this. It was her free will. I suddenly remembered what Gabby said. Give her something to fight for. But what was I fighting for? Was it to save just a human life? And did it really matter what I was fighting for? Then I heard it. It was one word that sounded like a sweet soft melody from her lips. She called for me and I knew it wasn’t her that needed a reason to fight; it was me. Just as I went to leap into action, Gabby stepped up and blew her horn. Just behind her was Mindy, Dale, and even Jared.

We were still outnumbered, but those minions were no match for me anyway. It was Sloane that I was actually afraid of. If she truly lost herself and knew what power she hid, we would all be in for a world of hurt. There’s no way she could control it before it took control over her.

“I don’t think you were supposed to use that horn,” I said to Gabby as she came to stand by me.

“What’s going to happen? Someone hears it and a spike in religion happens,” she smiled. “Anyway, it was meant to only cause a diversion, but you see how well that turned out.” I grabbed her shoulder.

“Thank you, Gabby. All of you. Thank you for coming.” Declan looked around at all of them.

“Thank us later when we get Sloane the hell out of here,” Mindy yelled.

“Declan, you need to know something. The power that Sloane carries has the ability to destroy. That’s why you were sent on your first mission. If she unleashes her power, are you prepared to finish her off? If not, I will.” I couldn’t believe I heard those words come from Mindy’s mouth.

“It won’t come to that. I’ll make sure of it.” I shot her a look that said to stay away from her. I wasn’t losing Sloane again. I didn’t care what it would cost me, and I would make damn sure Sloane wouldn’t be harmed anymore.

“Well, what the hell are we waiting for?” Dale asked, and in that moment it was all we needed.

All five of us went charging in.

SLOANE

No one was fazed by the light or by the horn. It was Gabby. She was dressed in a beautiful blue robe, trimmed in gold. Everyone sat there and watched as I withered in pain with smirks on their faces. I caught a glimpse of Declan and I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming or not. I let his name slip from my lips and reached my hand out for him. I heard a shrieking sound and saw Mindy charging after Crystal. Dale and Jared went after the two wolves while Declan took on the were-tiger. Gabby had her hands full with Dee. Chad stood there watching Viktor’s back.

In that moment of fighting, I saw everyone that I had come to love and respect fighting for me. What was it about everyone