"Still... can't beat you... huh?" he whispered, each word taking everything he had left.
Layla ran over and dropped to her knees beside me.
"You..." She looked at my wounds, eyes welling up. "You're bleeding so much..."
"I'm fine." I grabbed her hand. "Just scratches."
"Liar." Her tears spilled over. "Your ribs are..."
"Shh." I turned to Finn. He was still staring at the sky, eyes glazing over.
"You could've chosen a different path," I said. I didn't know what else to say. Of course I hated him. But now, there was something else. Something sad.
"Maybe," Finn coughed up black blood. "But then..."
"I'd just be pathetic."
"A bastard nobody wanted."
"I'd rather..."
His breathing grew weaker.
"I'd rather be a monster than pathetic."
"What about love? You sold your soul to the devil. You lost love forever." I looked at Finn, those eyes fading now, still fixed on the sky.
Finn's eyes flickered.
"Love?" His voice barely a whisper. "What's that..."
"I don't... remember anymore..."
His hand lifted slowly and reached for the bracelet on his wrist. The moon and star charms pressed together. With the last of his strength, his fingers trembled, stroking the two charms.
Then his hand dropped and hit the ground.
"Kayden, I still hate you."
The wind carried the words away.
Layla's fingers found his pulse and held there a few seconds.
"He's gone," she said softly, standing up.
I stood too and looked down at the body.
Moonlight fell across Finn's pale face. All that twisted rage, all thatmadness—gone. Only calm remained. And maybe a hint of relief in his smile.
"Look at his bracelet," Layla said quietly. "Victoria wore one too."
"I saw it before she took the poison. Exact same design."
"So he really..." I looked up at Layla, voicing the question gnawing at me. "Did he still love Victoria?"
Layla was quiet for a few seconds. Then she laughed, but there was no humor in it. Just sorrow. And something else I couldn't name.
"Maybe," she said, looking at Finn's body. "But his heart was already full. Hate and ambition took up all the space."
