Her fingers clenched his collar tighter while her other hand emerged from the sling. With her fist wrapped tightly around one of the hidden talons, she plunged the weapon into his gut. His eyes went wide as the tine sank into his flesh. She pushed harder, deeper. He finally had the sense to try to dislodge her, but she clung with all her might to his coat, their bodies almost flush.
“Promise me,” she said, her glamour falling away, her sorrow twisting into monstrous, bottomless, victorious rage, “that my face will be the only thing you see when you rot in eternal hell, you arrogant piece of shit.”
She twisted the talon, then shouted her final command.
“Ferrah!”
With a piercing screech, heat encircled them in a violet blaze. Mareleau kept her eyes open, drinking in the terror that contorted the face before her. It was a beautiful sight, in all its repulsive, savage glory.
If this was the last thing she ever saw, she’d be satisfied with that.
She watched his skin boil and char, his eyes melt from their sockets. Until the purple flame pulsed too bright. Too hot. Until her mind grew hazy, her breaths short and sharp.
Only then did she release her enemy.
Only then did she succumb to death.
60
Death hurt a lot more than Mareleau had expected.
It was louder too. So loud.
She tried to ignore the sounds, waited for the pain to end. Soon she’d find herself in the otherlife, whatever that meant. Would she find a field of flowers? A tranquil ocean? An eternal banquet with an endless supply of chocolate? How long would she have to wait for everyone else she loved to join her? Hopefully a good long while.
She tried to envision what kinds of chocolate the otherlife might provide, but even as she pictured the most decadent truffles and a cake with ten tiers, that nagging sound interrupted her. It was…a word. No…a chirp? A screech? Why was death so godsdamned loud? Surely her heroic final act had earned her peace and not one of the seven hells instead. Well, if the latter was the case, she’d have to hunt down Darius and plague him in death. She wasn’t above becoming a devil if that was her best option.
But no, she wanted chocolate cake, not?—
There was that sound again. Why was there sound? Why was it so sharp and loud when she just wanted to sleep?
Sleep.
“Just let me sleep.”
“She’s alive. Gods, she’s alive.” The voice was even louder now, but it no longer grated on her nerves. It was familiar to her. Treasured. Why would she ever choose chocolate cake overthat? Only now did she realize what the sound had been. Her name. Over and over. The word left Larylis’ lips yet again, like a chant meant to tether her to the plane of the living.
Another sound shattered the haze in her mind. A sweet small cry.
Her heart pulsed in response, warming, spreading. She jolted, and pain shot through every inch of her.
Oh, right. Death was painful.
No, not death.
Life.
Life was…gods, it was agonizing.
Again that tiny cry reached her ears, and she opened her eyes. Smoke clouded her vision, but she blinked it away. Two faces stared down at her, one bronze, the other…
“Lare.” Her voice came out a tired rasp. His cheeks were wet with tears and soot.
She tried to sit but every part of her revolted at the motion.
“Don’t try to move,” Larylis said. “You’re hurt.”
“But she’s healing.” Garot stared down at her with wide eyes. That was when she noticed him bouncing a still-crying Noah in his arms. Noah was no longer wrapped in his lavender swaddling, but the lighter linen layer he’d worn underneath. She’d turned her son’s protection over to Garot before her confrontation with Darius. Now all she wanted was to hold her baby.
