Chapter 157
Elowen's POV
I stood in the demon realm, staring at Raven. The air tasted wrong. Heavy. Like despair had a flavor.
My chest hurt. Everything hurt.
Raven's eyes drifted toward something in the distance. A gothic cathedral. Red marble walls rose against a pitch-black sky. Lightning cracked overhead. The sound made my teeth hurt.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Raven's voice slithered across my skin. "Home sweet hell."
I didn't answer. My throat felt too tight.
Behind me, I heard something. Footsteps. Heavy breathing.
No. Please no.
I turned. My heart stopped.
Ronan.
He landed a few feet away. Graceful, like always. But his face was pale. Eyes too wide.
"What are you doing here?" My voice cracked. Frustration burned through my veins. "You shouldn't have followed!"
Ronan straightened. Met my gaze. "I couldn't let you face this alone, Elowen. You're family now. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Family. The word hit me harder than expected.
"You idiot." The words came out barely above a whisper.
"Love you too, Your Highness." His lips twitched. Almost a smile.
The warmth in my chest lasted maybe three seconds.
Then it vanished.
I reached for the mate bond. Tried to feel Casper. Cassian. Anyone.
Nothing.
My breath caught. Panic clawed up my throat.
"No. No no no."
I tried again. Pushed harder against the invisible wall in my mind.
Still nothing.
The bonds were gone. Cut off. Like someone had severed every connection I had to the people I loved.
"Juno!" I screamed in my head. "Juno, please!"
Silence.
Ronan grabbed my hand. His fingers laced through mine. Warm. Real.
"We'll figure this out," he said. "Together."
I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to.
But the emptiness where my mates should be felt like a wound. Raw. Bleeding.
"Your little reunion is touching." Raven's voice made me flinch. "But meaningless. In this realm, your powers are useless."
He moved closer. Each step deliberate. His red eyes gleamed with something dark. Something hungry.
"Afraid, sweetheart?"
Ronan stepped forward. Put himself between us. "Back off! If you touch her, I swear I'll make good on my threat!"
Raven's face twisted. "Do I look like a damn mortal to you?"
His hand lifted. Black energy swirled around his fingertips. The air crackled.
"No!" I grabbed Ronan's arm. Tried to pull him back.
Too late.
The dark power shot forward. Wrapped around Ronan like chains. Lifted him off the ground.
His scream cut through the air.
"Watch your threats, little dog." Raven's smile widened. "Insulting me has consequences."
Ronan's body twisted. Bones snapped. The sound made me want to vomit.
He slammed into a jagged rock formation. His back arched. Blood sprayed.
"Stop!" The word ripped from my throat. "Please, stop! Please don't hurt him anymore!"
My voice shook. Fear and desperation mixed together until I couldn't tell them apart.
Raven turned to me. His eyes lit up. Like he'd been waiting for this.
"Ah, the power of despair." He tilted his head. "Very well, little wolf. I'll ease his suffering. But only if you agree to hear me out."
"I would have listened at the pack!" The words exploded from me. "Once I was with my mates, I would have listened! You didn't have to do this!"
Raven's smile deepened. "But where's the fun in that?"
"You're disgusting!"
"Others have said the same, darling." He winked.
His fingers twitched. Ronan's screams started again. Louder. More desperate.
"Stop it!" I lunged forward. "Stop hurting him!"
Raven watched me. Studied me. Like I was something interesting under a microscope.
"You care about him," he said. Not a question. "How sweet."
"Please." My voice broke. "Please, I'll do anything. Just stop."
"Anything?" His eyebrow lifted. "Careful with promises, sweetheart. Words have power here."
Behind us, Ronan gasped. Choked. The sound rattled in his chest.
I looked back. His skin had gone gray. Blood pooled beneath him.
"He's dying." I turned to Raven. "You're killing him!"
"Make your choice, sweetheart." Raven examined his nails. Like Ronan's pain was boring. "Your friend has about sixty seconds before his wolf... poof. Dead."
"Tick tock, darling."
"Don't agree!" Ronan's voice was raw. Blood leaked from his eyes. "Don't—"
I looked at him. Really looked.
Even now. Even dying. He fought for me.
His green eyes met mine. Full of pain. But also... something else. Trust.
"If you die, you can't be godfather to my kids, can you?" My voice broke. Tears burned my eyes. "Right?"
Ronan's expression softened. Just for a second.
"You better... name one after me," he wheezed.
I almost laughed. Almost.
I turned back to Raven. Swallowed hard.
"I... I agree." The words barely made it past my lips.
"Speak up!" His voice cracked like a whip.
I swallowed again. Forced the words out louder. "I agree. But first you let him go."
My voice was steadier now. Even though my hands shook.
Raven's eyes narrowed. "You think you can make demands?"
"You want me to listen?" I lifted my chin. "Then yes. Let. Him. Go."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Ronan's screams filled the air again. Worse than before.
Then silence.
He dropped. Hit the ground hard. His body didn't move.
"Ronan!" I ran to him. Dropped to my knees. My fingers touched his face. So cold. "Ronan, please."
Blood everywhere. Under his eyes. In his hair. Soaking his clothes.
I wiped the blood from his face. My hands came away red.
"Thank you, friend." I pressed my lips to his forehead. "Thank you."
My tears fell on his face. Mixed with his blood.
His chest rose. Fell. Barely.
But he was alive.
I stood. Turned to face Raven.
"Now." My voice didn't shake anymore. "What do you want?"
Raven smiled. Wide. Showing too many teeth.