Chapter 0706 When I looked down at my hands, there were two burnt marks along my palms.
Luke cursed under his breath, raking a hand through his blond hair in frustration. "Nina," he pleaded, "I took a vow to protect you when we first met. I've never broken that vow." "Luke-" "No. Listen to me, Nina." His soft eyes met mine, but they flashed with something intense, something primal." You have to letdo this. I've had my ton this planet, and... hell, Nina, I'd be here long after you're gone, long after all of you are gone. Do you know how lonely that kind of existence is?" As Luke spoke, his eyes began to redden, and tears slipped down his cheeks; a beautiful, painful part of his human disguise. Crying was something that he hadn't been able to do for hundreds of years.
"At least letgo out now, doing something brave," he murmured. "Letfulfill my vow." There was a long silence after Luke finished. I couldn't believe what he was saying, didn't want to believe it. But maybe he and Enzo were right; maybe we had no other choice.
Enzo turnedgently so I faced him. His dark brown eyes pierced mine intently, bright like pools of honey against the ashen cast of his face.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"If Luke fights in your place, then you might still have a chance to get away," Enzo said. "Even if Mila doesn't take our plea deal, then maybe you can slip away while she's distracted during the fight. Save yourself and our child." His voice cracked on the last word.
My heart shattered at the resignation on my husband's face. Enzo had already accepted our friend's probable death in all this, if it meant our baby would get even the smallest chance at life. I couldn't blhim, but...
It still burned.
I buried my face against his chest, struggling not to cry. His hand gently stroked my hair. Luke watched us silently from his cell.
"Isn't there any other way?" I whispered.
Neither of them answered me. And that was confirmation enough-there were no other options left. No more moves to make that wouldn't end in sacrifice and heartbreak for someone I loved.
In the morning, I awoke curled up against Enzo's chest, his labored breathing stirring my hair. The silver exposure was taking an immense toll on both of us; we didn't have long before our wolves would be too weakened to emerge at all, sealing our fates.
Suddenly, we heard the tramp of metal boots and jangling keys signaling the guards' arrival. Without a word, they marched into our cell and hauled Enzo and I away to face Mila's judgment, leaving Luke behind in his cell.
Neither of us struggled anymore. What was the point? A few minutes later, we were being shoved into Mila's private chambers; she was lounging casually on top of a bed with red silk sheets, her nude body barely covered by the dark green robe she wore. The guards shoved us to our knees as Mila slowly rose, seeming to float across the floor to us.
"Well? Have you decided to face righteous tradition... or a cowardly death?" she murmured.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmI lifted my chin. "I will not fight."
Rage flashed across Mila's flawless features before she composed m posed m herself. "No?" she purred softly.
softly. Too softly." Then you leaveno choice." She casually flicked her fingers. Two guards grabbed Enzo and forced him to his feet in front of me. He struggled
weakly, the silver having drained most of his supernatural strength. The pure exhaustion he felt was E evident in his eyes.
Then, another guard appeared, his silver dagger glinting in the flickering firelight, and pressed the razor-sharp blade to Enzo's vulnerable throat. A trickle of red slid down his skin.