The Mark of Fate: Book 3 of The Marked series by Ford, Rinna (romantic love story reading .TXT) 📕

as my eyes slid from face to face. “Some of them were beyond saving, and the rest, well, we ran out of time.”

I didn’t see Ainsley anywhere so I shifted my gaze back to Xander, confused.

“In there.” He pointed toward another door and I left the security of his grasp and walked to it. “Prepare yourself, Emi,” he said, kissing me on the temple. “He’s in really bad shape. I think he’s been waiting for you to wake up.”

I hesitated before turning the knob, realizing what he was saying to me, and I let out a deep, shaky breath, until I felt Xan’s hand once again wrap around mine. With his support, I was able to go inside the small room. There in the room was one single bed and on it was my favorite wolf shifter, beaten and bruised but resting. Devlin was holding his hand and staring at Ainsley’s upturned face with so much sadness.

Dev’s expression… it broke me.

I ran to Ainsley’s other side and gently took his hand in mine. The wolf slowly dropped his head and looked at me, his gaunt face breaking out into a weak smile.

“I knew… you’d save me…” he rasped.

“I’m so sorry, Ainsley. I’m so sorry…”

“For... what?”

“For not staying with you and Dev. For not finding you sooner…”

“Sugarbear… we needed… you to go. You… are the… most important thing.” He gasped between words and I broke even further, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Take… care… of each other…”

“Shhhh. Don’t talk. Rest.”

A sob wracked through Devlin and he lowered his head toward Ainsley’s hand.

“Don’t cry… my love…” Ainsley said to his boyfriend, and I began to cry even harder.

“Please don’t cry… either of you… I… love you… both. Thank you… for loving… me… and being… my family.”

Ainsley was slowly turning his head back and forth between Dev and me as he spoke. I saw how hard it was on him, so I released his hand and walked around the bed to where Dev sat and knelt down beside him. I put my arms around my uncle and looked up into Ainsley’s smiling, tired eyes, but his eyes were firmly planted on Devlin. It was as if he were trying to memorize every single detail of his lover’s face. Ainsley harshly swallowed and opened his mouth to speak, finding it hard to get the words out. I squeezed Dev harder as I saw what was happening.

Ainsley swallowed again and that time was able to whisper the three words that mean the most.

“I love you… I love you...”

His eyes opened and closed slowly until they didn’t open again. A deep breath left Ainsley’s body and we knew that he was gone.

“No, no, no, no…” Devlin wept, his face buried in his boyfriend’s stomach as he tried to will him to wake up. “Don’t leave me... Please, don’t go…”

I curled around my uncle as we both cried at how unfair it all was. When Dev realized I was there, he wrapped one arm around me and pulled me further into his body. He eventually let go of Ainsley and sagged into me as we both cried for the wolf that had filled our hearts with joy.

Eventually, Dev’s tears dried up and he pulled away, his body numb. I was still crying. He kissed me on the forehead, and motioned for Xander and Matias to take me. I was wrapped up in strong arms and I watched as Devlin gently leaned over Ainsley’s body and kissed his lips once before wiping his own wet cheek and walking from the room without looking back.

Ainsley wasn’t his mate, but their connection was as strong as any bound couple I’d ever witnessed. They were meant for each other, fated or not, and as I watched my Uncle Devlin walk away, I wondered why life was so cruel.

My tears began to dry up as well as my eyes remained locked on Ainsley. I stepped out of my mates’ arms and sat on the edge of Ainsley’s bed. I took both of his hands and crossed them over his stomach, making him appear peaceful. He died at peace, which I was thankful for, but he had spent months going through Hell to get there. It was so unfair. He deserved better, so much better.

Ainsley was the kindest, funniest person I ever met. He made me feel loved from the moment I met him back at the dinner table at his and Devlin’s cabin in the woods. Anyone who knew him knew that he was special. It was in his energy, the way he made people smile, and the way he knew exactly what to say. He was amazing and I knew the world would be a duller place without him.

All these months, I knew there was the possibility that he and Devlin were dead. I knew it, but I never let myself believe it, even when I watched Ainsley fall during that attack when he and Devlin sent Xan and me away. I wouldn’t let myself believe it, or even that they were being mistreated, starved, and mutilated. It never occurred to me that even if they were captured, they would be treated like they were. I was so naive.

The Council and Michael Ironshot had taken things too far.

I took a deep breath and leaned over, kissing Ainsley’s cheek before rising and walking from the room much like Devlin did. If I looked back at Ainsley, I knew that I would break down again and I couldn’t do that.

I walked through the infirmary, my eyes passing over each of the people laying there, not really seeing them, but even so, I was filled with even more righteous anger. I didn’t know any of those supes or what they had done to be experimented on, but whatever it was, they didn’t deserve it.

I picked up the pace, my mates following right behind and I exited the medical wing and walked toward Amos’ office. I wasn’t sure that was where my grandfather was, but