“I love you," I sobbed and I hated myself for saying it because it sounded like goodbye. His mouth pulled up at the corner then he fell still, his eyes closing and shaking the foundations of my soul. I shook him in desperation, my tears washing over him as I pleaded with the stars, tried to bargain with anything and everything I was to bring him back to mne. We were supposed to be forever. I'd sworn an oath to fight for him, no matter what it took to be with each other. I lay a shaky kiss to his forehead, squeezing his hand and vowing not to give up. I'd never, ever give up on him. On us. We were meant to be together no matter what anyone said. And death wouldn't get a say in it.

You've got to face Lionel," he wheezed. "You have to work with the Heirs." He winced as pain racked through him and I dropped my forehead against his, wishing I could pour my strength into him. "I know you can do it. Blue." "Please stop," I begged. "You're not going to die." You made the last few months the happiest of my life, Darcy Vega. I'm sorry for being an asshole when we first met - biggest regret of my life." He coughed heavily and blood slid out of his mouth, making my heart nearly collapse.

"Stay," he grunted, his hand closing around my wrist to keep me there. Blue.." "No," I stopped him, shaking my head, knowing what he was going to say. "Don't you dare give up. I'm getting you help." I tried to move again but he held on tighter, squeezing my arm with need. "Please," he rasped. "I need you to be the last thing I see."

Tears blurred my vision as I clasped my hands to the gaping wound on his stomach and pressed down hard. His eyes fell shut and my heart hit a terrifying beat as reality sank deep into my bones. She stabbed him. She fucking stabbed him!

"Stop!" He tried to fight, but he was too weak and they fell to the ground in a tangle of limbs. "Clara, stop!" he begged as she dug her nails into his arms and ripped at his flesh like a starving animal.

"Every drop of blood from my veins was sacrificed to the dark, to transport me across the worlds and leave me in the Shadow Realm to rot," Clara said in an icy tone. Her upper lip peeled back to bare her fangs and my hackles rose on instinct. "I thought you' d come for me but you never did." I thought you were dead," Orion said in dismay. "There was nothing left of you." "Because I wasn't there," she choked out. "I went into the stardust, how could you never have thought to look for me?"

My gaze locked with his just as a black ring formed around his pupils. His eyes widened in horror and I guessed the same thing had happened to me too. That was it. We were marked. Star Crossed. The bubble of peace we'd been standing in shattered suddenly and the blizzard howled in around us to claim this place like it had never existed at all. I turned and ran from him, leaving him standing in the snow, looking like the sky had caved in on his head and Id just torn his heart right out of his chest. Pain like nothing I'd ever felt scored through me, carving a chasm into my heart and blinding me as I raced out into the Snow.

"Please," Darius asked again. "I'm giving you my heart. If you give me yours in return I'll spend every moment of our lives proving to you that I can be worthy of it." "I's too late," I growled, finding some strength somewhere and throwing all of it into my words while the rest of me shattered and died, broken into a thousand pieces I knew would never mend. "If fate is so cruel as to only offer me true love with a man who could hurt me as much as you have, then I'll go without love," I swore. "You want my heart? I'd sooner cut it out than give it to you."

"Please, just be mine, Tory," Darius begged. "Td rather be alone," I whispered.

"If I'm right about this, we won't get another chance, Darius begged, raw desperation burning in his eyes as he looked at me, seeing the doubt that warred through me. "Don't you understand? We ll be Star Crossed. Bound to be alone forever. We'll never find love with another. We're meant to be together - it's fate." My jaw tightened at his words. Because it didn't even sound like he wanted me at all. He just didn't want to be Star Crossed. He'd rather have me than no one. But I didn't plan on being anyone's consolation prize.

"Thank you," I said earnestly and Darcy nodded, blinking back her own tears as she looked to Clara where she was cradled against my chest. So long as her heart continued to beat, I knew my sister would be okay. And as I listened to the familiar thrum of it in my ears, nearly five years of grief lifted from my shoulders, bringing a part of me back to life which had long since been lost.

«They're not coming," I spat and something broke in Darcy's gaze as she realised I was right. Even if they were on their way, they weren't going to make it in time. Fuck Darius for doing this to me. I'd given everything of myself to him. My whole life was bound to his, but the one time I needed him, he couldn't show up.

Two constellations weren't sitting where they were supposed to be. It was as if the heavens had rearranged themselves for this one moment and the stars which made them up glowed even brighter than usual as they came together, So close they were almost touching. Leo and Gemini. I'd recognise those constellations anywhere. And if the sky rearranging itself to bring them together, then it could only mean one thing. This was a Divine Moment. The stars had guided me here and they'd be bringing someone else to join me. Someone who was perfect for me in every way. Who pushed me and challenged me. Who made my heart beat harder and my flesh prickle with desire unlike anyone I'd ever known. She was my mate.

*Get everything ready." I said, trying not to let the anxiety into my voice, but I wasn't sure I managed it. Orion frowned darkly as he spread out the materials before him. "I don't understand why Darius would let me down like this tonight of all fucking nights." I glanced toward the cave entrance again, my pulse thundering in my ears. We didn't have long left and I had no idea if the two of us would be strong enough to do this alone. Please hurry, Tor.

"Roxy!" Fire blazed around me and suddenly I wasn't alone in the dark anymore. A man stood with me, shrouded in flames with giant golden wings sprouting from his back. His hand took mine and I was dragged from the shadows so fast that my head spun. I drew in a shuddering breath as I found myself lying in my bed with Darius straddling me, his grip tight around my wrists and his flesh hot with the power of his fire Element. Healing energy danced along my arm, closing my wounds. *Are you back?" he asked desperately, his gaze locking with mine as his eyes burned with a wild kind of panic.

"The time draws close," she hissed, reaching for me. My limbs grew cold and the shadows wrapped themselves around me more tightly. Pain cut across mny forearm and I gasped as the shadows rushed tighter and ecstasy spilled along my flesh. I was vaguely aware of the fact that I was bleeding, that I'd cut my arm open with a shard of ice to let the darkness in, but I couldn't draw my attention away from the pleasure long enough to care.

"Get in your Order forms!" Orion shouted as another shuddering slam sounded against the door. A rasping, sucking noise filled the air and fear dug into my heart with icy talons. Nymphs." Xavier gasped behind us.

"So I maybe, kinda hooked up with Darius again last night," Do not judge my sister. Do not, do not, do not. “Are you sure you know what you're doing?" I asked in concern. "He hurt you, Tor..." Like drowned you in a Swimming pool! "I'm totally in control of it. Cross my heart. I nodded, relaxing a little. She could handle it. Tory dropped the silencing bubble and glanced at Orion. "Yeah, so I lip read that whole thing," he stated. “Im glad you're making him happy." He smirked.