h4Chapter 827: 827-First And Not The Last/h4

    strongHnie:/strong

    I sensed Kesha move closer behind Kaye. She clearly hadn’t expected the brothers to show up.

    "Kaye, what are you doing?" Norman asked, his hand lifted slightly, palm open toward his brother.

    "Norman, please don’t step forward. I have to do this," Kaye insisted, and I felt the knife press harder against my neck as panic tightened his grip.

    "Do what? Kill Hnie? Your marked mate? The woman carrying your child?" Norman growled. His eyes dropped to my belly, a frown forming on his face. I knew he was thinking the same thing I was, how the hell had I suddenly be this pregnant?

    "So she’s fooled you too. That’s not Hnie, that’s Kesha. She is Hnie." He turned his head slightly toward Kesha standing beside him, and I saw my mates’ faces twist with anger.

    Even though Emmet hade to fight for me, I noticed him ncing around several times, almost as if he didn’t know where he was. Then it hit me. The curses. They were making them act this way. And where was Maximus? Worry gnawed at me from deep inside, but right now, my baby’s life and mine were at risk.

    Norman stepped forward, but the moment Kaye tightened his grip on me in warning, he froze and stepped back.

    "You’re making a big mistake. She’s pregnant with your child. Kaye,e on, open your eyes. Snap out of her spell," Norman hissed, pointing to my belly again.

    This time, Kaye chuckled behind me.

    "Then wasn’t she supposed to be in the early stages of pregnancy? How does she already have such a big belly?" He had voiced the same question I’d been too afraid to ask.

    "It’s because she’s carrying powerful babies, and she herself is powerful. I spoke to the doctor. She said her pregnancy would move fast," Norman exined.

    As soon as he said that, relief washed over me. If he was right, then nothing was wrong with my baby. My pregnancy was only progressing quickly because I carried all of their children, and together, they would be born powerful.

    "No, she has you fooled," Kaye snapped, his breathing uneven.

    "Come on, Kaye, don’t listen to them. They’re stalling. They’ll send someone else soon, and when helpes, they’ll kill me," Kesha cried, tears streaming down her face.

    I was crying too. So why couldn’t he feel my pain the way he felt hers?

    "I’m sorry, brothers, but I can’t keep doing this. We must end it. Today, I kill my second-fated mate. Tomorrow, you will kill yours. Only then will Hnie be free forever," Kaye dered. Keshaid her hand on his shoulder again.

    "Kaye, listen to us. Please, put the knife away from her neck. You’re hurting her," Norman urged, inching forward step by step. But Kesha’s eyes were sharp, tracking every move.

    Emmet lookedpletely lost now. He shifted his gaze from Norman to me, then back again, watching everyone’s faces as if he couldn’t make sense of it.

    "Kill her," Kesha whispered, leaning into Kaye’s ear. She was so close that even I heard her breathy voice.

    In one swift motion, Kaye spun me around. Everything blurred. Norman broke into a run, but by the time Kaye had turned me, my back was to him. All I could see were Kaye’s eyes, locked on mine, and Kesha standing behind him.

    Kaye stared into me silently, then raised the dagger. He drove it down once. Twice. A third time. Blood sprayed across his face and onto the others.

    I was too numb to move. Norman’s scream pierced the air, then cut off.

    Kesha’s eyes went wide as blood gurgled from the wounds Kaye had left in her. He had spun so quickly to stab her that for a moment I thought it was me he had struck. Kaye pulled back and turned his head toward me.

    "You really thought I wouldn’t recognize your heartbeat?" he said. A sob tore from me as I sucked in a shaky breath. Norman rushed to my side while Kaye wrapped his arms around me.

    "Of course I recognized you. At least, I recognized the baby," Kaye whispered, cupping my face in his hands. "She cast a spell on me to keep me from knowing you, my love."

    Norman rubbed my arms from behind, steadying me.

    "But once I focused on your heartbeat—" Kaye’s voice broke, "even though I was lost when you turned and looked me in the eye, I knew the heartbeat I felt was ours. Yours, mine, and our child’s. Not hers." His exnation tumbled out, the truth of what had broken the spell.

    He suddenly pulled me into another embrace.

    "I’m so sorry. I put you through so much," he cried. Norman stepped back then, his gaze shifting toward Kesha.

    We broke apart and all looked at her. She had copsed, blood pooling fast beneath her. Kaye had struck her again and again, each wound dangerously close to her heart. Kaye stepped toward her, crouched down, and wrenched the dagger free.

    "Kaye, please don’t," she begged weakly. But I saw him raise the de high and drive it down toward her heart.

    By then, Norman had pulled me close. I buried my face against his chest, refusing to watch the devastating scene unfold.

    I heard her scream onest time before it cut into silence. I lifted my face from Norman’s chest and turned to see her lying still, finally lifeless.

    Kaye stood over her body, facing us. He crouched down, lifted her body into his arms, and carried her to the edge of the well. Without hesitation, he tossed her in.

    A heavy thud echoed from below, and then the well began to glow, as if the sacrifice had been epted.

    His head tilted back, arms spread wide, as if embracing the storm. He closed his eyes and let the rain wash over him, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

    Finally, he lowered his head, opened his eyes, and looked straight at us.

    "I’m free. I’m free from the curse," he said, his voice calm after so long, almost relieved. I watched as the tattoo on his neck began to fade.

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