LILY
I was halfway to the car when the bond went completely silent.
Not strained. Not distant.
Gone.
I hit the ground hard, my knees giving out. The absence of Ace's presence was like having my heart ripped from my chest.
"Lily!" Eva caught me before I could fall completely. "What's wrong?"
"He's gone." The words came out as a whisper. "I can't feel him anymore."
"That doesn't mean—"
"Yes, it does." I looked up at her, tears streaming down my face. "The only way a mate bond goes silent is if..." I couldn't finish the sentence.
"No." Eva's voice was fierce. "No, he's not dead. He can't be."
But I knew. Deep in my bones, I knew something terrible had happened.
"We have to go," I said, struggling to stand. "We have to go now."
"Lily, if he's..." Eva's voice broke. "If something h
