Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, #5)(74)

Ever grabbed Mina under the arms and flew up in the air. Mina looked down and saw Nix lose his grip. He fell, struggling under the large black beast. He kept his arms up to protect his face, but its teeth and claws tore at his chest.

Come on. Come on. You want me not him. The farther away they could get, the sooner he’d give chase.

She heard a howl of pursuit, and the dog was after them again. She tried to look past her feet dangling in the air above the roofs of the cars, but was unable to see what had become of Nix. She prayed he was okay.

Something wet landed on her cheek, and Mina first thought it was rain, but then she looked up and saw Ever’s face, wet with tears. Another one fell on Mina’s shoulder.

They heard a growl beneath them, and Mina instinctively pulled her legs up. Ever tried to fly higher, but she was struggling with the added weight and getting tired. Ever couldn’t keep up her pace. She was slowly flying lower and lower. Mina tried to reach into her bag for the Grimoire, but it was behind her.

She heard a howl and tried to scan the ground below her, but she couldn’t see anything. The omen had disappeared. Ever whimpered, and her grip loosened. Mina’s shoes brushed the top of a Toyota. She was too heavy for the sprite.

“Ever, stop. Put me down. It’s fine,” Mina said.

“No, I can’t. I promised to protect you.” She choked as more tears poured out of her eyes. “Even if we’re doomed, I’ll still protect you.”

“Then fly over the water, and let’s see how well he can swim.”

Ever, too tired to answer, nodded and turned to fly Mina over the water. They had just cleared the railing when Ever cried out in pain.

The omen had pounced on her back.

“No you don’t, you ugly beast!” Ever shouted as she turned on the invisible dog and tried to fight. She let go of Mina.

Mina plummeted from the bridge. “Ever!” she yelled, just before her body smacked against the water and everything went black.





Chapter 32



“Wake up!” his warm voice demanded.

Mina knew that voice, remembered it and sighed in contentment, knowing he was near.

“You have to wake up!”

“No, because if I wake up, you’ll be dead,” Mina answered. “In my dreams you’re still alive.”

Teague appeared in front of her, hair slicked back, wearing his royal robes, the same ones he’d worn when he greeted her on the steps for the Choosing Ceremony. His eyes weren’t blue though. They were a comforting light gray. But that didn’t matter like it had once upon a time. She knew now that she wanted to be with him, in any form.

“But sleep is not your destiny.”

“Was it your destiny to die by my hand?”

“You freed me, and for that, I can never repay you.” Teague’s eyes were so full of love and understanding—the way they should have always been. He looked at her—not with accusation or contempt—but simple adoration and love. Seeing those emotions made her feel inadequate.

“I killed you! You can’t possibly forgive me for that. Not when I don’t forgive myself.”

Teague came forward and wrapped his strong hands around her. “I forgave you the moment you stole my heart. A part of me will always live on.” He pulled away just enough to touch her heart. “In here. Forever. But only if you wake up and fight for it.”

“I want to stay here with you until I die.”

“Which will be any minute. Don’t waste your life feeling guilty. Because the thought of losing you will kill what’s left of me for sure.”

“I can’t.” She felt her lip tremble, and Teague leaned down, his lips gently brushing against hers in the softest of requests. Asking for her love in return. They brushed against her lips again, and she met him for the kiss. His hands wrapped gently around her face to hold her in place as he deepened the kiss.

She was drowning in the kiss. Losing herself to the feelings. Her lips started to tingle and go numb.

The kiss changed. Teague pressed his lips down and blew into her mouth, forcing her to breathe. Mina opened her eyes in surprise and gasped for breath before rolling over on the beach and emptying her lungs of water.

Her hair stuck to her face, and she peeled it away to take in her surroundings.

She was utterly alone on the beach—at the edge of a warzone. Her heart broke all over again, and fresh tears stung her eyes. Mina collapsed back onto the sand, trying to ignore the way it rubbed against her. And—was she sitting on something? Her bag! She tugged it out from underneath her hip and checked inside. Relief flooded her. She hadn’t lost the Grimoire in the bay.

Fighter jets race overhead toward what was left of the Golden Gate Bridge. Helicopters whirred in the air. Everything was over—displayed on the news. The Fae were exposed. The siren ship lost its glamour, and the helicopter moved in, cameras homed in on the Fae ship. The world wouldn’t understand that not all Fae were bad. The sirens were about to be attacked.

It appeared more than the Coast Guard had joined in the battle for the world. Humans in fatigues ducked in and out of the abandoned cars on the streets. More Fae army boats docked, and suddenly Mina knew who they were.

Gnomes. Gnomes and Reapers. Annalora was keeping her word. The gnomes and Reapers ran through the streets, targeting the human soldiers.