I’d been sixteen and dying down in the King’s Palace prisons. Weeks had gone by where I’d been held down there, deprived of food, water, and magic. All my senses had been robbed of any stimulation, and I was desperate. The beatings and other sick punishments that Grim had forced me to endure on top of all of that had eventually been too much for my body to handle.
My old friend, Valik, had appeared before me, and I’d believed I was hallucinating. But he’d done something to my soul as it tried to leave. The tranquility I’d felt had been something I never wanted to let go of. I remembered how pissed I’d been to be snatched back into my body. I had just wanted the peace back.
Having glimpsed the freedom death could offer, I’d never again feared its embrace. In fact, I’d always seemed to push the limits in dangerous and careless ways, hoping I’d return to that place of pure bliss once again.
And now, I was.
My soul felt light and free, pure energy in all its unbound glory. Iknew I’d failed my life’s mission, but it was better for everyone if I moved on.
At least I left having returned Gray’s memories, gifting them to her before it was too late. Now, she could fully understand the extent of my love for her. Now, she could finally piece it all together. It had always been us. And alwayswould beus.
I sat there in that bliss for an unknown amount of time. Time didn’t exist where I was, so it could’ve been five minutes, four seconds, or even a year. I had no way of knowing, nor did I care.
The pain was gone. The control was gone, and I was free. Now I would wait here until Gray joined me, and we’d reincarnate into the next life.
Until a tug jerked me back down.
No. No. No. Not again.
As if a rope were knotted around my soul, something pulled me back down. I fought against it, not wanting to leave this place of bliss.
The further it pulled me, the heavier I felt.
Why the fuck couldn’t I just die in peace?
I descended faster until everything was a blur, until I crashed back into my physical body, jolting my consciousness to play catch-up. The heaviness returned. The sound of voices hurting my ears and the smell of burnt death assaulted my nose.
I gasped for air, inflating my lungs once again. Anguish knitted itself with a fine needle through my soul as a longing for eternal peace devoured me.
But then her energy caressed mine…
My eyelids flew open, and I sat up, searching for Gray in the courtyard where I’d died. My Kinetic and Elemental magic surged through my veins. The cool strength of metal uplifted me as the taste of iron brushed my tongue. All forms of energy on the spectrum surged through my blood, revitalizing me from death, making me feel stronger than I had ever felt. I’d never been so happy to have my power back instead of the twisted Infernal death magic I’d possessed before.
Everyone who’d been there looked at me as if I were a ghost, clearly unsure what to make of my return from the dead. I scanned past the others until I found her.
Leaning against Slate’s side, stunned hope bled together with disbelief and fear on her tear-stained face. “Gray?” I croaked out. I flashed her a lopsided grin. “Please don’t cry, Princess. I’m right here.”
As if my voice kick-started her back to life, she ran to me, throwing her body on top of mine. Instinctively, my arms wrapped around her to pull her close. Her heartbeats became my own. I inhaled her vanilla and lavender scent, savoring it as if it would forever disappear.
“What the fuck? You just—” Gray rushed out, but I cut her off, cupping her cheeks and kissing her jawline, then her nose before settling my lips on hers.
“Valik,” I said in between kisses. “Long story.”
As if summoned, the air split in half, and a familiar white light blinded me as a portal opened. “Speaking of…” I said against her mouth.
“But,” Gray began, confused, “is the Syphon Bond broken?”
I nodded. “Yes, Rainbow. It’s broken.” I pressed another tender kiss to the tip of her nose.
Her breath shook when she added, “So is our bond.”
I sat there, realizing with horror that she was right. While I was back, alive once again, I knew there was something missing inside of me. My chest felt empty, like a chunk of my essence had been cut away. “No…”
Gray nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “I felt it. It’s gone.” I swiped away the tears staining her cheeks, determined never to see her cry again.
Valik stepped through the portal, looking exhausted. “Good to see you again, Prince. Before Celanea shows up and turns all of you into her little uninteresting zombies, I suggest we leave. Now.”
Valik’s green eyes met mine, and a gentle smile of gratitude pulledat the edges of my lips. If it hadn’t been for the magic he’d performed on me over a decade ago, I wouldn’t be here with Gray. He gave me that chance. At that point in time, I had been pissed off that he’d robbed me of the ability to die, but this time, I couldn’t be angry.
