Meanwhile, Cerri put her hands over Addie’s chest. A soft green glow emanated from Cerri’s palms. The arcana hit a barrier around Addie’s body and fizzled into nothing.
Addie had warned me that Reapers would die young, but I never thought it would end like this. I shook her. I screamed. The others surrounded me and tried to comfort me. Addie’s friends did everything in their power to help, and not once did they try to pull Addie from my grasp.
Then Addie’s last words hit me. She hadn’t screameddon’t you darefor no reason.
“Hel,” I growled.
The goddess had taken my love. I waited, rather impatiently for Hel to bring Addie back.
The cookout emptied. Shifters left. The inner circle took turns watching over us. First it was Ryder. Then it was Morgan. My beast snarled at them if they stepped too close. Then Ness came, and the clouds covered the sky.
When it was Vi’s turn, she chattered incessantly. I didn’t hear a word she said, though. It all turned into incoherent droning as I waited.
And waited.
Hours passed. The night slipped by.
Still, Addie didn’t return.
The next morning, the Pack told me that I couldn’t sit here forever. They helped me carry her back to her home where I put her to bed, like she was sleeping. The flicker of the television in the corner told me that Addie’s favorite spirits were there, watching with me.
I couldn’t bring myself to leave Addie’s side.
Because when that bitch of a goddess showed her face again, I would be waiting forher.