If only he’d let me use the amulet to heal him… I glance to where the other necklace lies across the room.
“This is where I belong, Sorin.” His eyes close, his chest slowing. He takes another slow and labored breath. “I’m not a good person. I’m not like you.”
“You could be,” I say. “I see it?—”
“No.” He shakes his head, a small wince escaping his lips. “Do you know what most people would do when faced with evil?”
The blaring horn sounds again from outside. I swallow against the thickness in my throat as his eyes meet mine.
“They’d turn and run for their lives. And do you know what I did?”
I shake my head, ignoring the blood soaking through to the floor.
“I leaned in and kissed evil goodnight.”
He laughs but it’s quiet and broken. “You and I are not the same, and I’m glad for it.” He closes his eyes again, his face somehow paler than before. “Besides, I’m not afraid of death.”
My chest cracks as his breathing falters. “No?” I ask and a faint smile curls up the sides of his lips.
“No,” he whispers, “because in death, I’ll finally be free.”
I wait several more moments by Roman’s side. Wait for his breathing to increase and his eyes to open.
They never do.
When his chest falls for the final time, I pull two coins from the bedside table and place them over his eyes.
I scoop up the other amulet and shove it in my pocket, not willing to risk it being left for anyone to find.
With a final look at Galen and then at Roman, I slip from the room with a new determination in my steps.
I need to find my wife.
By the timeI make it to the courtyard, it’s empty aside from the bodies of bloodied and mutilated guards. My stomach churns, hands trembling as I nock an arrow.
“Elora!” My voice echoes back to me, and as my knees begin to give out, a familiar voice drifts through the courtyard.
“Sorin.”
I spin toward the east.
There she is. Running toward me, blood staining her face and clothes, hair unbound, flowing behind her.
Six wolves in tow.
My queen.
My heart.
The other half to my soul.
She collides into me, her arms wrapping around my neck. My fingers tangle in her hair as I breathe her in. “You’re okay, love?”
She nods, still pressed firmly against me. “You?”
“I’m okay.” I run my fingers through her hair, down her back, and up again before she finally lets me go. Despite the constant rain, blood still coats her face and under her nails. “Sam and Jarek? The others?”
“Everyone is safe, at least I think.” She brushes my hair from my forehead. “Roman?”
