CHAPTER NINETEEN
~ Kimber ~
“You’re not goingto do this!”
Rilen trailed after me as I rushed down the corridor to the library where the scroll was.
“Kimber, stop! You’re not going to do this!”
I halted, and he slammed into me.
I turned slowly and stared at him. “If this is what has to happen, if this is my destiny, then we have to play it out.”
“Don’t be noble.”
“You think I want to? Do you think I wanted any of this? I’ve fought this whole thing all this time! But I just can’t get away from it, can I?”
“Let them fight. The war will end eventually.”
“When all of the vampires and druids are dead? Or when all of the humans are?”
“Ilati…”
I missed that word from his lips. Just a few days in the scope of my life without them, and I felt like my heart had been torn to pieces.
“Let’s get the scroll,” I said. “It’s a prophecy, and others may have another take on it. You know they’re never clear.”
“It sayssacrifice.”
“Rilen. Let’s find the scroll and figure this out.”
“I’m not letting you die.”
“I’m sincerely going to try not to do that.” I turned on my heel and headed for the library again. “Avoid rockfalls, please. I’d rather you not die, either.”
“That’s not fair. I didn’t run into the rocks.”
“You still looked dead to me.”
The library was just as full of dust as it had been. No one believed in cleaning, apparently. The scroll was back where we had found it, rolled and tucked in its case.
Turning to say something to Rilen, I realized I was alone in the room. Rilen was standing at the door.
“Self-preservation,” he called. “I don’t know what dust is in here, but I’m not going through that again.”
I hauled the case out and cradled it to carry it over to the door. Rilen took it from me and tossed it over his shoulder. His free hand grabbed my shirt and hauled me in for a breathless kiss.
“Did you really kill all those men?”
“Hell yes,” I whispered the words against his lips. “I’d burn the world to ash for you.”
“Dorian is right,” he said. “I like this more violent you.”
“Mm. I’d love to explore that.” I leaned in and returned the breathless kiss. “But we have a war to end.”
“Dammit. I was hoping to distract you.”
“Later. And a lot. All of you.”
