“Don’t sleep,” Ellie ordered, all but yelling the words into Prospero’s face. “Do you hear me?”
Prospero heard a door open. A new voice twined through the others in the room, and then a vibration began. Prospero forced her eyes open, trying to warn them so no one else was injured by whatever that vibration was. Her throat wouldn’t work, and her lips wouldn’t part.
Prospero tried to at least gesture toward the door, but instead she toppled into Ellie’s lap like a cornhusk doll. She stared up at the still-young face of her bride, glad they had had one night together before this.
I want more.
The vibration grew louder until the entire room hummed as if hives of bees had been set loose in the room, but Prospero couldn’t move or speak. If there were bees, the others should get to safety.
Ellie’s hand threaded through the remains of Prospero’s wisps of hair, but Prospero’s hearing was so nearly gone that she couldn’t understand whatever Ellie was saying. She stared at Ellie’s mouth, trying to read the words on her lips, but Prospero’s vision was fading, too.
Except the bees. I hear them coming.
But then everything went dark, as if an explosion had rocked the infirmary, and Prospero felt her body and Ellie’s sail through the air. Her final thought was that she hated that Ellie was injured, that she was useless to help her, that she was too weak.
Everything stayed dark, and Prospero was not expecting to be able to lift her eyelids again. She’d barely had the energy to blink a moment ago, so she was surprised that it was painless to do so now.
The infirmary looked like a storm had tossed everything into the air and walls. Debris was everywhere, but Prospero could move again. That, too, was unexpected.
“Ellie? Love?”
“Prospero!” Hands reached for her, pulling her into a soft bosom. “You’re… wow, you’re—”
“Old. I know. I told you. I won’t hold you back, though.” Prospero stared into her wife’s eyes, grateful she could tell her the words that Ellie needed to hear. She wasn’t sure why she could speak now, or hear Ellie, but she hurried to get the words out. “I release you. You can have a life here without the burden of an old—”
“But you’renotold.” Ellie laughed. “Youwere.I thought you were dying. I wasn’t fast enough. I couldn’t do it. I’ve never killed anyone until…”
“You killed him?” Dan said. “That’s a relief. When I opened my eyes and saw that he was ashes… well, mostly. There’s a jaw with some teeth still in it.”
“Dan.” Ellie swallowed visibly. “You’re… here.”
“Did you hit your head?” Dan looked around. Louder he said, “Hey, Dr. J? I think Ellie hit her head.” He scowled. “Why’s everyone staring at me?”
“You were dead,” the stranger who had been crouched in the corner said.Ian.That was his name.Remedial witch Ian.
Dan laughed, but when no one else joined in, he looked at Axell. “For real?”
“I killed you,” Prospero said.
“Lie.” Dan folded his arms. “Still a witch. I can hear lies, and that was a lie. This is not funny, guys. Telling someone they were murdered is—”
“I killed you,” Ellie said softly.Heradmission rang true, and everyone in the room had to realize it.
“Oh.”
“You drained Allan until he was a husk… and then when Prospero started aging…” She straightened her shoulders. “I don’t regret it. You were killing her.”
Dan said nothing at first, and Prospero wondered how much she was going to have to erase from his memory. Then he shrugged. “Your wife’s a scary bitch. I guess knowing I could kill her makes me feel a little better around her.”
Ellie gave him a measured look. “I won’t hesitate to killanyonewho endangers my wife.” Her gaze drifted from Dan over to the chief witch and she repeated, “Anyone.”
And Prospero flinched. Ellie was publicly threatening the chief witch.
Walter gave her an appraising look. “I knew you’d make a good match.” He grinned like a cheerful grandpa. “Figured she needed someone vicious to love her the way she needs. Glad you’re up to the task, Miss Brandeau.”
Prospero’s mouth gaped open.
“I assume all of your recollections are back,” Walter asked.
