Chapter 603: Charlotte's Choice

There was nothing left for me to do. Not while Andre swelled with power and Mia sagged, sobbing into her hands. While I hadn't done it personally, I had a hand in my friend's ruin.

Sorrow washed through me as I turned, met Quaid's eyes. Saw his grief for his sister. Glanced over his shoulder.

And sobbed myself, once. She lay crumpled on her side, bare skin pale, blonde hair spread around her, stained dark with her blood. Charlotte's stillness told me what I needed to know, but I went to her anyway. To confront her loss.

Sassafras jumped down, approaching her face. Touched her nose with his small, pink one. Jerked back and hissed as he looked up at me. "Syd," he said. "She's still warm."

Impossible. I fell to my knees, my power reaching for Charlotte. But she was gone, no heartbeat, no breath. And yet, he was right.

She hadn't died from the bullet wound after all.

Charlotte survived all this time only to die just before I reached her.

Heaving sobs ripped me open as I fell over he