Another torturous wave blurred her vision into red-dotted black, erasing the demon trying so desperately to save her once again. She floated into unconsciousness knowing he’d be too late this time.

19

Kain

When she stepped through the barrier, every cell in Kain’s body felt the loss of his claimed mate like a sickening emptiness spreading from where the ache in his chest pulsed.

He would never, ever be whole again without her, just like his father had never truly recovered after the loss of his mate, but it didn’t matter. This burden he would gladly carry if it meant the light within the woman who’d unwittingly claimed his soul would never be dimmed by the darkness inside him.

But the sight of her walking farther and farther away would haunt him for eternity.

As if she felt his pain, her steps faltered maybe ten yards in, and then she turned around to look at him, her brows drawn.

Something was wrong.

“Selma?”

The urge to protect her was stronger than the repellent nature of the barrier, and he stepped closer to the invisible wall in a futile attempt at reaching her.

She turned her back on him again, taking a few more steps, and everything in him clenched with terror. Something was wrong!

Before he could call to her, her entire body seized as if stricken. Then she keeled over, both hands pressing against her abdomen.

“Selma!”

Without his bidding, Kain’s dark magic welled up from his core. He slung it at the wall with as much force as he could muster, wild with fear. She needed his help, and she needed it now!

“Selma!” Kain roared again, but she didn’t respond. She twitched on the ground, writhing in pain and clutching at her abdomen.

She was trying to push herself toward him, and their eyes connected for a second. Then hers rolled back into her skull and she collapsed, lying so still he could no longer tell if she was breathing.

Dark, thick panic clenched his sternum, stealing his breath. His powers poured through his body and out of his hands, hammering against the barrier again and again. It was made from old, strong magic, but even if he had to drain every drop of his essence to bring it down, he would do so to get to her, because if she died…

If she died, he would cease to exist.

Nothing could have prepared him for that overwhelming certainty. Not his father’s miserable existence, not the keen sense of loss when Selma had been taken into custody, nor when she’d walked through that blasted barrier.

Yet as he stared at her crumpled form, he knew he wouldn’t be able to break through in time.

Still, he would never stop trying.

“Selma!”