Chapter 17

Aleks held India’s hand beneath the moonlight. She was so beautiful he fought the urge to kiss her.

“I love you,” he whispered, unable to help himself. He pulled her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her fingers. She smiled at him, caressing his cheek. She vanished suddenly like a mist. He turned anxiously, looking for her.

“India, India! Where are you?” he called out, but she was just gone. The scene changed, and the idyllic garden became a wasteland, white sand stained red with blood, bodies laid lifeless, wasted. 

He saw Sean among those bodies, his eyes blank. He saw India off in the distance. She stood bloodied, sword drawn against this enemy, but somehow, in his gut, he knew she wouldn’t win, not as she was.

“India, stop! Wait,” he called, trying to warn her to run toward her, but no matter the distance he covered, he seemed to be too far away. The evil creature gripped her and seemed to suck the life from her; it callously dropped her to the gr