His lifeless body falls into my lap, and I freeze. My eyes widen in disbelief as I catch my breath. With trembling hands, I hover over his body, unable to move…unable to think. I scream to the heavens above, casting all my anger out towards the Gods.
I scream.
I scream.
And I scream.
A violent, gut-wrenching sob escapes my lips as my eyes clutch together. The tears won’t stop falling as I hold him in my arms, pulling my lips towards his head and feeling the softnessof his curls against my skin. I kiss his head, over and over. My shoulders rise and fall as I shutter out deep, exhausted breaths.
He’s gone. Within a blink of an eye.
My Koen.
My Koen.
The sun won’t shine any more. Not here. Not anymore.
He was my light. Now all I see is pure darkness.
The thunder roars in the sky as lightning bolts crack through the clouds. The Gods feel my anger, and they should.
“Florian!” I screech, my voice cracking in pain as I rock Koen’s lifeless body. “Help me!”
My bottom lip quivers as my cheeks soak with wetness. My eyes burn, feeling as if my soul left to the Gods with him.
The fire transcends back up to the clouds with a violent rumble, and light flashes across the sky.
Theon falls to his knees as soon as he sees us. Throwing his hands above his head in disbelief.
“He’s gone!” I see Florian run to me through my blurred vision.
He falls to his knees right beside us, hands trembling over the two of us as tears fall from his blue eyes.
“He’s gone.” I meet his weary gaze. “He left us.”
“WOULDN’T IT BE SOMETHING IF one day the Realms were at peace?” Koen’s arms are folded behind his head, the dragonflies soaring in the blue sky above us as I rest my head on his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing. His heartbeat flutters as my fingers trickle across his stomach. I trace theindentions of his muscles, focusing on a few scars towards his pantline.
“It sure would be,” I whisper out, placing my lips against his chest before nestling my cheek against him once more.
“Would you stay with me if I had a darkness inside me?” He clears his throat.
I rise, letting my chin rest against my hands that are crossed across his body. “What kind of darkness?” My brows raise, teasing him with a gentle smile.
His lips roll into a smile. “What if I wasn’t like the others in the Realm of Eekatia? What if that is why the Royals want to cast out everyone from the Darklands?”
“I’d never allow that.” My brows cave in, glancing at his eyes that are lost in the clouds above us.
“You will be Queen soon.” He swallows before exhaling a deep breath. “Which means you will stand beside my brother for the rest of your life.”
“What if I want to stand beside you for the rest of my life?”
His eyes glance towards me, feeling the rise of his chest. “It’s treason.”
I pull myself up, crossing my legs as my fingers trace the freckles along the skin of his ribs. “I am no Queen without you.”
He sighs, pulling his body up and rests his elbows in the dirt. “You could die if you chose me.”
“What life is worth living without you in it?”
