Page 409 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

The calm that had won us battles.

The calm Aren had carved into me.

The calm that let me kill without blinking.

Now, it was forged in fire.

They began to turn—to run.

But they couldn’t run from me.

A wall of rippling flame rose behind them, forcing them forward again. Fear lit their eyes—fear and knowing. That they were already dead.

I smiled.

Not a beautiful thing, but a victorious one. A promise of the end.

“Burn,” I whispered. And the wall obeyed, crashing down like a tidal wave. Those closest made for a fight—but my blades found every mark. Too easily.

When the first wave fell, I turned toward August and Alec, still locked in battle. Lana and Freya fought like fury itself. But the demons were after their marks. I swore under my breath.

I am with you, always. Aren’s voice cracked through my mind—too clear. His goodbye.

Eyes burning, I leapt toward August and Alec. I would not let the only vision I couldn’t survive come true.

Until we meet again.

My hands trembled as I returned the salute I’d prayed I’d never give. Fear rippled across the square. But the coven echoed in my head:

Until we meet again.

It’s been an honor⁠—

His voice turned translucent. My stomach twisted and I drove my blade through the demon lunging for Alec’s throat.

Stay with me, I begged.

The creature dropped at our feet.

But Aren was gone. Silence where his mind should’ve been. Empty.

I didn’t fight the tears streaking my face. Didn’t fight the raw, inhuman sound that tore from my throat.

I flipped over another demon’s back, tore out its spine, drove my blade through the blood wolf leaping for Alec’s back.

I grabbed his bloody hand. My voice cracked. “Live to be a father, Alec!”

His eyes flared with disbelief—betrayal. And I hurled him through time and shadow, back to the safe house. Back to his mate. Back to their unborn child.

August withdrew his blades from two more demons, spinning to strike down two others. I decapitated a limping tormentor, then grabbed August by the back of the head and dragged him to me for one final kiss.

My voice broke against his lips. “I love you. I’m sorry.”

His eyes flew wide—noticing Alec was gone. “Ally, don’t⁠—”

But I already had.

I hurled him after Alec. My heart slammed against my ribs as I turned toward Lana and Freya. Too slow. I had been too slow.