( Back at the Blackmoon Stronghold - Old World)
The world had gone still.
Too still.
The blue fire that had roared from Autumn's veins moments ago now flickered weakly around her, trembling like a candle about to die.
The air smelled of death, despair and tears. The ground beneath them was still warm…warm from the blood of Alpha Malrick…mutilated and killed.
And right there was Freya…right within Autumn's reach…and then she wasn't.
Autumn's breath hitched. A single sound broke out of her chest…soft at first, like heavy a gasp…but it cracked into something raw and uncontainable.
"Kieran…" Her voice shattered. "Kieran..she's gone…"
He didn't answer. Couldn't.
Her hands clutched at the front of his shirt, trembling, yanking him closer, until her forehead slammed against his chest.
The impact made him grunt, but he didn't pull away. His arms came around her, instinctive, fiercely holding her as if he himself needed the grounding…he himself was about to shatter.
