Marabella
My eyes widen in horror as Kaif bursts free of Kyan. The sight is as impressive as it is bloodcurdling. A deep, thunderous growl leaves him. It is so loud and sudden that it makes the hair on my arms stand on end. Jonah rushes forward to stop him when Kaif turns and flings his hand, blasting Jonah backward and at the wall.
Jonah crashes into the wall, the entire thing rattles as books and the shelves’ contents fall to the floor. A scream of fear leaves me, and I rush toward Jonah, to help him sit up where the wall dents from the impact.
“I’m okay, but you need to move if you want me to stop him,” Jonah gasps, then groans as he sits up. My heart twinges now, realizing how foolish my actions were. Even after what I did, Jonah would still fight for me without question.
When I killed myself, I thought I was ending my pain, yet seeing Jonah, it is clear I was only giving it to him. My mistake is clear to me now. I ended my life without thinking of its effect on him, which is obvious from the tear streaks on his face. Even now, he is still fighting for me, even after I gave up the fight myself.
Jonah cups my cheek with his hand and goes to get to his feet; I turn my head just in time to see Kaif stalk toward Eziah. Eziah is just as eager for this battle, a battle that seems to be set in stone since the moment I found out Kyan is my mate. My heart lurches when Kaif swings at him, his claws raking down his chest, which earns him a snarl from Eziah. His shirt is torn open, and his blood stains him red as it spills on the floor. Eziah’s face twists with rage and I can feel it coming off him in waves.
“I warned you about hurting my sister; I fucking warned you, Kyan. It was either Lucas or Jonah, a life for a life. To give, I must take first. You did this, not me, you did, and now you pay for it,” Eziah screams at him, clutching his bleeding wounds.
“This is your Karma! I did this to save her, save you! Even though you don’t fucking deserve saving after what you have done!” Eziah snarls at him. I want to question him, want to know what he means and what he has seen. But I am distracted by the anguish clear on Kaif’s face.
His words seem to stun Kaif for a few seconds. His rage dissipates, and Kyan returns before collapsing next to Lucas on the floor. “I didn’t know,” I hear him whisper, and my stomach sinks as tears trek down my cheeks.
A domino effect; this is what Dominic meant. Every action has a reaction, and by killing myself, I not only ended my pain briefly, I caused Kyan more. Eziah staggers and leans heavily on the door frame, his hand clutching his chest. Blood pours out between the gaps of his fingers. His skin goes pale and his lips turn blue as he sucks in a harsh, shaky breath.
“Eziah?” I whisper, and he looks over at me. His face is clammy, and he smirks.
“I’m alright, sis, but we need to go,” he rasps out, holding out his other hand to me. At his words, Kyan lifts his head, glaring daggers at my brother.
“She is not going anywhere with you,” Kyan snarls at him, and Eziah’s eyes flash gold before flickering oddly. He pulls his hand from his chest and the blood pouring from him is a mixture of red and blue. Fear etches onto my brother’s face as he peers down while my mind is trying to conjure myself to move, to help, anything.
“Come, Marabella,” Eziah hisses, trying to stand upright. He sways on his feet, then stumbles forward and trips over Kyan.
Kyan moves with a speed that would have shamed Kaif. His rage still burns hot like a raging inferno, and I watch the tattoos of his darkness that cover his back, chest, and arms ripple with the power he exudes as he grabs Eziah’s throat and pins him against the wall.
Kyan smirks, his lips twisting coldly. He wants to kill my brother, the pain he feels at his loss is turning into hatred so deep and palpable, I can feel it in his power as he fights to remain in control and not give himself to the shadows.
“You don’t scare me, Kyan,” Eziah growls.
“I don’t need to scare you, but if you try to take her, and I will fucking kill you,” Kyan snarls while his eyes flicker to a demonic black. “You’ve taken my uncle; I won’t allow her to leave with you. You’ll be lucky if I let you leave with your miserable life!”
Eziah’s eyes narrow, his canines slip out as his wolf, Malachi, comes forward at the threat. “Good thing it’s not up to you, then. Marabella can decide for herself!” Eziah retorts as Kyan’s grip tightens.
Eziah’s face changes color, and I watch as Kyan’s claws break free of his fingertips slowly as a warning. Razor-sharp and digging into his skin.
Kyan growls, turns his head to look at me, a clear warning in words. “Choose wisely, Ella,” Kyan says, not removing his eyes from mine.
Eziah laughs just as Kyan turns, slamming his head against the wall. Eziah only smiles mockingly. Caught in between, I can only watch. I want to help my brother, but Kyan is clearly on the verge of losing control and also wants me to remain here.
I have taken so much from him and can’t bear the thought of taking more, yet at the same time we wouldn’t be in this situation if Kyan didn’t reject our bond. My brother saved me from myself and is now paying the price of doing so. It makes the decision painfully impossible. But one thing my mother has always drilled into us, never risk a bond, and Kyan did worse than that. He broke ours.