Last of Her Kind (Book 1, Part 1, of the LAST series)

pain of the protectors

“Awww. Smoochy smoochy smoochy.” Ren.

I quickly pulled away from Sorin, burying my head in his chest, trying to hide the heat that flushed my cheeks.

“Leave,” growled Sorin.

I heard Ren chuckle, then his retreating footsteps.

“Idiot,” muttered Sorin.

Looking up at him, I smiled. “But, deep down, you love him.”

He rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately. But, I love you more, oani.”

“I know.” My stomach rumbled, echoing around the room.

Sorin broke out into fits of laughter. “Awww, is my oani hungry?”

I scoffed. “Maybe.”

“You did sleep a long time. Let’s go,” he said rising from the bed. Reaching his hand towards me, I happily took it.

He placed a kiss on my hand before we left the room and headed downstairs.

“Well, look at the happy couple,” said Ren.

Levana smacked the back of his head, before walking over and giving me a hug.

“Thank you for saving me,” I told her.

She smiled. “Stop thanking me. It was worth it,” she said before placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

She walked towards Ren, sitting on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, a smile plastered on his face.

“Hungry?” asked Azriel, placing a bowl on the table.

“Starving,” I laughed, sitting at the table. “It smells amazing. What did you…make?” Azriel was standing still, not moving, eyes trained on the door. They all were. He held an index finger against his lips. “Something isn’t right,” he whispered.

“What?”

Thunder rumbled, causing me to jump. Eldar cursed, large, white wings sprouting from his back.

“What?” I repeated.

“Get out of here, Fae,” Eldar demanded.

“Why?”

“Seraphs,” answered Azriel.

Someone began banging on the door, making my heart pound. “Eldar! Get out here!”

“Ren, get Faeda out of here,” demanded Sorin. “Now. Take the back way.”

“What?” I said shooting up from my seat and standing in front of him. “No, I’m not splitting up from you. We are not splitting up.”

“Faeda-”

“No,” I said cutting him off. “You promised. You said you wouldn’t leave…”

“Faeda,” he begged, “please, I know-”

“…and I am sick of us parting…”

“Faeda…”

But, I ignored him, continuing to talk over him. “…so, please, I can’t do this anymore, and-”

He grabbed my face gently, shushing me. “Oani,” his voice cracked, “please. I’m protecting you. And I swear to you, I will find you. I will always find you.”

“Sorin,” my voice cracked.

“Go.”

Ren grabbed my hand, pulling me from Sorin. Going out the back, we began sprinting across the grassy plains, towards the forest. The forest that had my mind trapped. The long grass whipped against my legs as I struggled to keep up with Ren’s pace.

“Stop!” a voice yelled.

I looked up to see a seraph flying above us. He was swinging a bola above his head, then threw it at us.

“Move!” shouted Ren, shoving me out of the way.

The bola whizzed past me, barely missing me as I landed on the ground. I looked to see the seraph land as Ren immediately tackled him to the ground.

“Run, Fae!” he shouted.

I turned my head, looking at the forest, then back at Ren.

“Stop stopping and run!” he yelled.

I scrambled to my feet, running towards the forest, praying I’d make it to the other side. I just had to focus. Nothing in there was real. I was getting closer to the tree outline, the trees looking as if they were growing.

I was suddenly tackled to the ground.

I threw my elbow back, connecting with a face. I tried to get up, but my ankle was grabbed. I was yanked back, my body flipped over so I was on my back. I immediately began gasping for air, the attackers’ hand around my throat, squeezing it. My eyes grew wide at his face. Theo. I began clawing at his arm, dark spots filling my vision.

“Faeda!” Sorin’s voice echoed.

Theo smirked at me. “Struggling will only make it worse.” A whimper escaped my lips. “Oh, and Nikos says hello.”

I could feel myself getting weaker as darkness filled my vision, pulling me under.