Chapter 641: The Price

Panic tore a hole inside me, drove me to abandon Alison, abandon my own sense of safety, pushing me to run for the house.

To Gram.

Who I couldn't feel anymore.

It wasn't until I crossed through the family wards her power touched mine again. But dim, so dim, and failing by the moment. I couldn't think, breathe, speak as I rushed through the empty house to the back door.

Into carnage.

Charlotte lay sprawled on her face, half inside the house, cheek and bleeding nose pressed to the stone of the walk way. Shenka sagged on the grass nearby, passed out, skin so pale I thought she was gone.

Two black-robed Enforcers lay just past her, bodies smoking, the scent of burning flesh slapping me in the face.

But I didn't focus on them, not while my eyes flashed over their dead bodies.

To the limp old woman collapsed in the grass.

I ran to her, fell on my knees, pulled Gram's body into my lap, screamed a sob as I poured power into her. She was so far away, felt like Galleytrot did when Ameli