His heart was breaking. Smashing into a million pieces because of everything he had lost. But Lalo couldn’t help but feel relieved too. He would no longer have to take someone’s life in order to feed his. He would no longer have to devour and kill just to survive.
And everyone would be safe. Everyone would be all right.
He held on to that fact. He clung to it with everything hehad.
Lalo leaned into her, ignoring the fire rushing through his veins. He sealed her cries within his own mouth.
As their bodies pressed against each other, he felt his heartbeat come to an end.
An explosion of light and energy surged between them. Hecould have sworn it was the sun even though it was the middle of the night. How he missed the feel of it on his skin like this. Warm and not the cause of blistering agony. He opened his eyes and smiled as the heat of it slammed into him. Then everything went dark.
CHAPTER 50
Carolina
The world exploded with scorchinglight. A thousand shrieks tore through the air, piercing her ears in the worst of ways. She screamed at the sheer force of their cries. At the utter torment of Lalo’s blood still warm on her hands, but she would not let him go.
Just as fast as the brilliant light came, it disappeared, leaving the world around her blanketed in silent darkness.
Lalo’s body went slack in her arms. She held him tight against her chest and howled with sorrow.
They’d done it. Lalo’s wish of saving his sister, of ridding the world of his kind, her dream of wanting to keep her pueblo safe, had come true. But now his beautiful soul was gone.
A part of her wished to tear at the dirt. To claw her way into the underworld and find the boy who stole her heart. She could do it. She could use her blood and the lover’s blade to bring himback to her. She could call Tecuani to her and make another deal. Lalo would never be like Vidal. But no, he wouldn’t want that. And she’d never want him to suffer again.
Papá’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, and she wept into his embrace. “Why did it have to be him? Why Lalo?”
A torch was struck. She saw her papá’s face. There was no resentment in his eyes as she had expected, only sorrow. Her family limped toward her, clutching each other. But there were no sedientos alive to attack. They had all fallen. Their eyes had gone white. Their skin had been bleached of color. Their bodies had practically withered away.
She peered down at Lalo and cupped his cheek. “We did it.”
She jolted. “He’s still warm and his skin is still brown. What does this mean?” she asked her papá.
“I do not know,” Papá admitted. He’d never not had an answer for her before.
Was there still a chance? Perhaps he hadn’t been a sediento long enough? She’d been bitten and was still there. Perhaps he hadn’t stolen enough human lives?
She clutched him tighter. “Lalo,” she whispered. “Come back to me.”
Anger surged within her. She could not be offered this spark of hope only to be devastated again.
“Come back, do you hear me? Come back, or I will never forgive you.”
A PRAYER FOR THE DEPARTED
Be kind, Tecuani.
Grant us passage through the Forest of Souls.
Be gentle, Atzin.
Grant us safe travels through the River of Sorrows.
Be merciful, Itzmin.
Grant us sure-footedness through the Valley of Remembrances.
Be gracious, Tlali.
