“So, I’ll say it again. I hear you like to make bargains.”
“What do you want?” Death snapped. Her stormy eyes flickered back and forth, trying to read him.
“Give me Elyse’s soul,” Killian commanded with an authority he’d never felt before. Gods, he feltalive. “Let me and Elyse walk out this door. Do not take anyone we care about from us.”
Death narrowed her eyes at him, her fear turning to anger, but Killian continued.
“And after we have defeated Lazarus with this Blade, I will relinquish it.”
“That could take years,” Death snarled back. “Decades, even.”
“It could,” Killian countered. “But I promise that in that time, I will not let anyone use this weapon against you. And after Lazarus is destroyed, you will never have to fear the Blade of Hanael again.”
Death’s lips pressed into a line as she considered his offer. Killian could feel the gazes of the others burning into him, but he knew they wouldn’t interfere. Not Thomes, the pampered rich boy, or the twins with their cowardly poisons and idle threats. Certainly not Julian, who loved dramatics above all else. Not even Elyse, who knew that without her magic, she didn’t stand a chance against Killian.
“Fine,” Death said quietly. “My word is binding.”
Death held up her hands slowly in surrender, then slipped one hand carefully inside her robe. She procured a key and pressed it to Killian’s chest.
Killian wrapped his fingers around it. “Thank you,” he said on a soft exhale. It was an exhale that he’d been waiting weeks to release.
Killian strode to the glass container, whose lid was still open wide. Elyse was already stalking toward him, her hand outstretched. Her brows were scrunched so tightly they nearly became one.
“Give me the Blade,” she demanded.
Killian ignored her and reached inside the glass box to retrieve the chest. He still held the Blade in his other hand, ready to wield it if needed.
“Let’s go,” he huffed to Elyse, who still held her hand toward him.
The others gaped at him. Julian’s eyebrows were nearly to his hairline.
Without waiting for Elyse to follow, Killian marched toward the door they had entered through. Elyse raced after him, jogging to match his long strides.
“Apologies for the violence,” Killian called over his shoulder, though he had no regrets. He didn’t look back at any of them. He had to time this perfectly.
He reached the door as Elyse caught up to him. “Give me the Blade,” she demanded again, but he opened the door and strode outside, back into the empty alleyway. Elyse hurried after him.
As soon as the door shut behind them, it glowed a bright, blueish hue. It was nighttime now, and the shimmering light was near blinding. Only for a second, though, before it winked out and the door vanished altogether. Killian slid the knife into his belt.
“Give—” Elyse said again, but Killian cut her off.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and somewhat meant it.
Before she could react, he swept her legs out from under her. Elyse swore as she hit the cobblestones, but it bought Killian enough time to slide the key into the lock. The chains fell away immediately, and the chest opened of its own volition, as if the soul trapped inside would fight to be reunited with its master. Right as Elyse lifted her hand, either to retaliate or transport away, a searing light shot from the chest and pelted straight into Elyse.
She gasped, but the light—her soul—was relentless, surging toward her in a beam of stunning gold. Killian dropped to his knees and set the chest on the ground. He laid a hand on Elyse’s shoulder and waited as her soul returned to her.
When the last of the light escaped from the chest, Killian whispered, “Take us someplace.” Somewhere they could be together. Somewhere private and beautiful. Not a dusty alleyway, but somewhere worthy of their love.
With a trembling hand, Elyse whisked them away.
20
Elyse
It was like being struck by lightning slowly.
Elyse’s chest grew hot, tingling with energy that spread out and down her limbs. That golden light kept coursing, coursing, coursing into her heart. When it finally stopped, it felt as if a year had passed in that alleyway.
