Bound

Prologue

My knees cracked against the stone as I sank. My energy was nearly depleted, and yet, his was not. He seemed to grow impossibly larger as he flipped through the thick, ancient book on the alter. A book I should have held onto like my life depended on it, because it does. And not just mine.

The skin of my neck seemed to shred as I turned to look at my three friends. Romy's eyes were closed as she laid on her side, hands clenched at her stomach like the pain was going to explode from her any second. Halle's nails were cracked and broken as she clawed at the ground, desperate to get to him and end this all. Riann... she was so still.

That alone broke me and I was falling forward, my hands scraped raw as I tried to catch my balance. The uneven stone was cool against my cheek. It felt so good when everything else felt like it was on fire. I just need a minute. One minute to breathe, gain my strength back, close my eyes... yes. Close my eyes.

Close them...

"Aliyah!"

My eyes flew open, the figure running towards me blurry until he was right in front of me. Cole.

"It's me," he whispered. I must've said it out loud, but I honestly don't know how. "Al, stay with me."

Speaking required a lot of energy, so I didn't say anything, but he must've seen the look in my eyes, because he suddenly looked devastated. Heartbroken. Defeated. So many things I hated to see on the love of my life's face.

My eyes moved beyond him, once again catching at the movement of Halle's hands. "Help..." I managed to say.

"What can I do? How do I help you?"

"Not... me."

His brows furrowed. "I don't understand."

I took a deep breath even though every bone in my ribcage felt broken. "Help Halle." It took all of the air I had just inhaled to say those two words.

Something shifted in him within one slow blink. There was resolve, and I felt so relieved, because I knew at least one person would survive this with his help.He stood, and I blinked again, surprised to see he was already a few steps away from me. Another blink and there was something in his hand. Light glinted in my eyes. What was that?

Blink.

A dagger.

Blink.

He was climbing the stone steps.

Blink.

He was right beside him.

My heart pounded faster.

Blink.

They fought over the dagger.

"Cole, no!" I tried to yell, but it was only a whisper.

Blink.

The dagger was in...

"Noooooo!"