With sympathy and remorse.
You cannot return a life that was given, son.
“No…” Cassiel shook his head, backing away. Pain lanced through his skull, and he clutched his head.
He had saved his father in time.
He gave him youth and a new name.
He had ordered him to hide and cover his face so no one would know…
That he had lost his mind.
Memories he had buried away bombarded him, tearing into his mind. Shattering glass. A blade of flame plunging through his father’s chest. Blood pooling on the floor.
I am sorry that I have to leave you again...
“Please!” Cassiel pleaded, his voice breaking. “I’m not ready for this!”
The crushing weight of reality set in, and it splintered like glass. His chest rose and fell with gasping breaths, each one growing smaller. Reality struck him so hard, Cassiel had to lean forward on his knees. His heart raced wildly as the world caved in.
No, it’s not true. It’s not true.
He desperately tried to erase it all away, but memories of the past and the present he created were surging together and taking over every corner of his being. The pressure built in his head. It grew and grew until it burst, shattering his delicate world. Cassiel simply buckled and collapsed among the shards.
“No. No.NO!” The word turned into a wretched cry as he screamed.
Seraph fire flared out and encompassed him, scorching the earth. He rocked on the ground, grasping his head as he fell apart. Gut-wrenching sobs tore from his throat and blue flames roared around him, spiraling out of control, destroying everything it touched—including him.
It was too much.
It was tearing him apart.
Someone stepped into the maelstrom and knelt beside him on the blackened earth. She gathered him in her arms and held him as he sobbed.
“It’s all right,kohav,” she murmured in his ear, caressing his hair. “I’m here with you. I’m here.”
He locked onto her voice, onto the shelter of her hold. With each soft assurance, his flames began slowly to extinguish. The last of his strength faded with them, and his body went limp.
Not once did she let go.
He didn’t fight when her power wove into his being, cradling the scattered fragments left of him in the ash. His eyes grew heavy and drifted shut as he breathed in the sweet scent of honeysuckle.
And Cassiel knew only relief as she gently put him to sleep.
CHAPTER 78
Dynalya
How could she have not seen it? Dyna asked herself that many times over as she watched Cassiel rest in his bed. He didn’t move or make a sound, but he was at peace in the dreamless sleep she had put him in. It seemed to be the only way to end his torment.
“I didn’t know. This whole time, I never noticed something was wrong.” She clenched her fists on her lap, wrestling with a terrible guilt, because she had only been focused on her own anger. “This was what you meant. When you said that he was not well. That he needed me…”
Dyna looked at Sowmya, where she stood at the foot of the bed. Yelrakel remained silent by the door like a dismal shadow as she watched over her king.
The red-winged Valkyrie lowered her head. “There is no punishment worse than living with the fact that you killed someone you love.”
“He didn’t kill Yoel.”
