Chapter 144

Chapter 144
  Laura looked at the dying world around her. At Kragoth's burning form and also at Elise's desperate face.
  At that moment she knew what she had to do.
  "I'm sorry," she whispered to no one in particular.
  Then she opened her mind to her mates. All four of them. Even here in this dark place, their bond was strong.
  Lucian, she called through their connection. I love you.
  In the real world, she felt him freeze. Felt his heart stop beating for a moment.
  Laura? His voice was desperate. Where are you?
  I'm fighting for us, she said. For everyone.
  Come back, he said as he could sense something in her tone. We need you.
  You don't understand, she said. I have to end this. I have to stop her.
  She felt his pain like a knife in her chest. But she pushed on.
  Dante, she called to her fiery wolf. My brave, beautiful Dante.
  Laura! His voice was weak. The shadow poison was eating him alive. I'm sorry. I can't... I can't fight it anymore.
  You don't have to fight anymore, she said. I'm going to fix everything.
  No, he said, dread filling his voice as realization set in. Don't you dare. Don't you fucking dare leave me.
  Tears ran down her face. I love your fire. I love your passion. I love everything about you.
  Laura, please, he begged. We can find another way.
  Zephyr, she moved on calling to her brilliant wolf. My smart, careful Zephyr.
  I know what you're planning, he said. His voice was cold, tensed and controlled. But she could feel his terror underneath. It won't work. The math doesn't fucking add up Laura.
  Some things can't be calculated, she said. Some things just are.
  There has to be another solution, he said almost pleading. Let me think. Give me time.
  There is no time, she said. I'm sorry.
  Nikolai, she finally moved on and called to her broken wolf. My beautiful Nikolai.
  This is my fault, he said almost immediately. All of it. I caused this.
  No, she said. You didn't choose this. None of us did.
  I betrayed her first, he said. I started the chain of events that led to this moment.
  And you tried to fix it, she said. That's what matters.
  Let me fix it now, he said, agony in his voice. Let me be the one to sacrifice. I deserve it.
  Nobody deserves this, she said. But I'm the only one who can do it.
  Laura felt all four of them pushing against her mind. Trying to reach her and to save her.
  We won't let you, Lucian practically growled in her mind. We'll find you and we'll fucking pull you out.
  You can't, she said. I'm too deep. And she's too strong.
  Then we'll come to you, Dante said. All of us.
  No, she said. You'll die.
  Then we die together, Zephyr said. Like it should be.
  Forever and always, Nikolai added.
  Laura felt their love hitting her like a wave. Even here, even now, they refused to let her go.
  I release you, she said. All of you. From your bonds.
  Laura, they said together. Please be reasonable!
  That's when she felt it. Power flowing through their bonds. Not just their love, but their strength.
  Lucian's steady leadership. Dante's fierce protection. Zephyr's brilliant strategies and Nikolai's desperate redemption.
  All of it flowing into her.
  What are you doing? she asked.
  What we should have done from the start, Lucian said. Fighting together.
  You're not alone, Dante said. You were never alone.
  We're one, Zephyr said. We live together or die together.
  I won't let you sacrifice yourself for my mistakes, Nikolai said. Not again.
  Laura felt their power joining with hers. The silver light grew brighter and much more stronger.
  But something else was happening too. She could feel Dante's corruption burning away. The black veins fading and the shadow poison dissolving.
  Whatever it is you are are doing, it's working, she breathed. You're healing.
  We're all healing, Dante said. Because of you.
  The combined power hit Kragoth like a tsunami. The entity screamed and staggered backward.
  What is this? she shrieked.
  Love, Laura said. Pure love. Something you'll never understand.
  Above them, the Moon Goddess's voice rang out. Not just in Laura's mind, but in all their minds.
  My children, she said. You have chosen the hardest path. But it's also the right one.
  Divine light poured down from the bleeding sky. It mixed with their silver light and made it even stronger.
  I lend you my power, the Goddess said. Use it well.
  The combined assault was devastating. Laura's silver flames, her mates' strength, the Moon Goddess's divine light.
  All of it focused on Kragoth.
  The entity's form began to dissolve. Her shadow body flickered like a dying flame.
  Impossible, she gasped. I am eternal. I am hunger itself.
  You're nothing, Laura said. You're just emptiness. The space between things.
  And love fills all spaces, Lucian said through their bond.
  Love conquers all darkness, Dante added.
  Love defeats even death, Zephyr said.
  Love forgives even the worst sins, Nikolai finished.
  Kragoth's scream shattered the mindscape. Her form was breaking apart. Dissolving into nothing.
  But as she faded, she did something desperate and cruel.
  She wrapped her dying essence around Elise's soul. Like a poisonous vine.
  If I fade, she hissed, she dies with me. And I get to wait like before, patiently.
  No, Laura said. Let her go.
  Never, Kragoth said. She's mine. She's always been mine.
  Laura felt Elise's terror. The woman was trapped. Bound to the dying entity.
  Save yourself, Elise said in a strained voice. Don't worry about me.
  I'm not leaving you, Laura said, despite the bad blood between them. For Nikolai Laura was willing to put the bad blood aside.
  She threw herself forward. Wrapped her arms around both Elise and Kragoth. The silver light blazed brighter.
  What are you doing? Kragoth demanded.
  What I have to, Laura said.
  The power was too much. She could feel it burning her alive. Feel her essence starting to dissolve.
  But she didn't let go.
  Laura! her mates called. Get the fuck out of there!
  I can't, she said. If I let go, Elise dies. And part of Kragoth escapes and this repeats again in the future.
  Then we'll hold her too, Dante said.
  No, Laura said. You can't. You're not here. You're not in the mindscape.
  We're with you, Zephyr said. Wherever you are, we're with you.
  Laura felt their love, their strength and their willingness to die for her.
  But it wasn't enough.
  The silver light was eating her alive. Her body was dissolving and her mind was fragmenting.
  I love you, she told them. All of you. Forever.
  Laura, no, they said. Don't you fucking dare.
  But it was too late. The light exploded outward. Kragoth's final scream echoed through the collapsing mindscape.
  When the light faded, there was only silence.
  Laura floated in darkness. She couldn't feel her body. Couldn't feel her mates' bonds.
  She was dying.
  But so was Kragoth. The entity was nothing but whispers now. Fading voices in the dark.
  You think you've won, Kragoth voice unexpectedly came back up. But I'm not done. I have enough strength left for one final act.
  What?! Laura asked weakly.
  I'm going to drag you down with me, Kragoth said. Into the void and into the space between worlds.
  You can't.
  I can. And I will. Your mates will lose you forever.
  Laura felt the entity's last bit of power wrapping around her. Pulling her down. Away from the light and away from life.
  No, she said. I won't let you.
  You don't have a choice, Kragoth laughed. You're already too weak and just too broken.
  The darkness closed in. Laura felt herself falling. Away from her mates. Away from everything.
  I'm sorry, she whispered.
  Then the void swallowed her whole.
  In the real world, Laura's body convulsed. Blood poured from her nose as her eyes rolled back.
  Laura! Lucian shouted. Laura, come back!
  But she was gone. Lost in the space between worlds. Fighting a battle that might be her last.
  The war wasn't over.
  It was just beginning.