Not again. Not again. I can’t do this again. Finding a loved one dead very nearly destroyed me the first time. There is no chance at all that I can survive it a second time. I’m not strong enough. I’ve never been strong enough.
“Morgan. Morgan.” Distantly, I hear someone saying my name.
Lello’s tear-streaked face swims into focus. He is pushing a knife into my numb hand.
“...happened before. Might not be permanently dead forever. Human blood might bring him back.”
I’m only hearing fragments of what is being said. The words are echoing dully around my head.
Might not be dead.
Human blood might bring him back.
Suddenly, I’m surging to my feet. I grab Lello by the shoulders, very nearly cutting him with the knife I appear to be holding. He yelps, but doesn’t resist me.
“What do I need to do?” I scream.
“Cut your wrist. Hold it over his mouth.”
That’s simple enough. I can do that. I’m willing to do anything, anything at all if I can stop this from happening. I don’t want Ned to die. He can’t die. Please don’t let him die.
I drag the knife over my wrist. It doesn’t even hurt. Warm wetness flows over my skin.
“Oh! That’s deep!” squeals Lello, but I don’t care.
My feet stagger the three steps to Ned’s side. I hold my bleeding wrist over his mouth and watch the blood pour in. Now all I can do is pray. Even though I don’t believe in any gods. But if any of them are real and listening, they can have my soul along with my utter devotion.
Ned’s mouth twitches. I gasp. Did I really just see that? Was it a trick of the light? Am I hallucinating?
No! Look! There it is again! He twitched. Ned definitely moved!
An awful feeling of hope coils through me. Cruel, teasing and mocking.
Suddenly, Ned really moves. His head lifts up. His lips seal around my wrist. His hands shoot up and take a hold of my arm, holding me close to him.
I yell and flinch from the suddenness of the movement. Then I suck in a huge, ragged breath and hold still. Ned has to take what he needs. He has to heal and get better.
I’m sobbing now. My shoulders are heaving, and tears are running down my face. Behind me, Lello is crying too, but he is keeping his distance and not interrupting. He understands as much as I do, that Ned can’t stop yet.
I stare down at Ned’s too pale face. His throat is moving, and I can hear him gulping. I’m starting to feel a little dizzy, but I don’t care.
Abruptly, Ned’s eyes snap open and fix unerringly on me. I swallow. He looks feral. Dangerous. A predator caught in a cage. Oh my. What if I’ve brought back something that isn’t Ned?
Cold, clammy horror claws at my guts. Then he blinks and all I see is Ned.
Recognition flows over his face. He stops sucking on my wrist and starts licking at it instead, healing the wound. It’s Ned. He is back. He came back to me.
It worked. Ned is alive.
Chapter twenty-six
Ned
Morgan. Morgan. Morgan.
He is everywhere. All around me. Inside me.
His life essence is shining bright. Wrapping around every cell of my body. He is a part of me now. Written into my DNA. His fire has reignited mine. He has brought me back to existence. His energy is sustaining me. Fueling me. Enabling me to evade true death.
