“Now, you walk free out of here and forget about me,” he replied, matter of fact.
“What?”she asked, confused.
“I failed this test,” he told her.“The punishment is my life.”
Shock had her shaking her head.“No.That’s crazy.I won’t accept that.”
“This is the Coalition,” he reminded her.“You asked why we have the council, and it’s for this reason.This is what we’ve grown up with, and neither of us are above them.”
She broke down, crying.“I want you to live.”
“And I wantyouto live.”
She laid her palms on his cheeks.“My place is by your side.”
“You could have a very long life, Kleya.Find another man.Have a family.”
“I want no other man.No other life.You gave up the leadership of the Coalition forme.You sacrificed everything for me.You are my everything as well.”
“Kleya.”He brushed some hair off her cheek.“If I hadn’t chosen you, you wouldn’t be here.”
“I don’t regret anything,” she breathed, kissing his lips.“I love you.”
“And I love you,” he said.“Please forgive me for not saying it before.For making you think I didn’t.I was fighting against my feelings because of my parents.For too long, the only thing in my life that mattered was the Coalition.And then you came along and shattered that all to hell.”
A sound came from behind him.The screeching of the door and he knew their time was up.
“Listen to me,” he said quickly.“I’m going to make sure when you go to them—”
“No!I will stay by your side,” she vowed.“Please.This is my choice.You made yours, now respect mine.”
Footsteps drew closer.
He couldn’t dismiss her words.
“Okay.We’ll stand together.”
She nodded, accepting their fate.“And we’ll die together.”
He stood and gripped her hand tightly, refusing to let go.He didn’t fear death, especially when she stood bravely next to him.They would depart this life together.
His grandfather led the council, face grim and resolute.The mayor of the city, the district attorney, the sheriff, and a few other prominent families were represented.Even Arnold Dane, whose face was strangely blank.A twinge of regret that David’s life would also end this day hit him, but he made his decision and this would be the hill he died upon.
“You failed to kill her,” his grandfather said needlessly.
“Yeah, I think that’s obvious.”
“Flippant?”
“No, resolute.”
The mayor stepped forward.“Why did you disobey the order?”
Kleya squeezed his hand in support.He looked down at her, smiling sadly.It was hard to mask his feelings now that he embraced them.
“Because I love her,” he replied, not looking at them.Only at her.“Because she’s mine and I’m hers.I know the punishment for failure, and I accept it.No,weaccept it.The only thing I ask is whatever you do with our bodies, burial or cremation, you keep us together.”
Silence fell, compelling him to look back at them.
