Thane's POV

Seconds ticked by like hours in eternity as the soul ripper plunged toward Astella's heart, and every fiber of my body was shouting at me to act, to shield, to fight. But her upheld hand pushed me back, and I was rooted in a spot between faith and terror, watching helplessly as my mate stood confronting the Shadow Lord armed with only his newfound strength and her own unswerving courage.

“Astella," I said in hushed tone, I could hardly even hear my own voice.

"So you believe you can trick me with words and a light show?" Kieran growled, baring his teeth as he pushed the soul ripper...