Chapter 122. Accept Defeat

CADE

“Cade,” Bethany’s voice wavered behind me. “Cade—”

I could hear the tremor in her voice, the fear in every breath.

“It’s a new poison,” she muttered. “I—I can’t name it.”

Fuck.

Every instinct in me screamed to rip through him, tear his jugular open, and make him bleed for what he did. But in the end, I couldn’t do it.

“You think I’m an easy opponent?” he chuckled, lifting his head slightly higher. He wheezed, but he was still completely unafraid. “I thought this through, of course,” he added casually.

“You think I would walk in here half-cocked with no backup plan? Please.”

His eyes flicked toward Bethany, and the smile on his lips turned cruel. “I’ve been wanting to get Fenra from you for years. Isn’t it nice, Bethany? Look at you now. Weak. Sick. Still pretending to be the symbol of hope for everyone.”

Bethany said nothing, her silence sharper than any scream.

“You should go,” Winters continued. “Enjoy the last few y