Her heart stutters.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then nothing.
Her eyes stay on mine as the light drains out of them, her head falling limp to the side. A sound claws its way out of my chest; something broken, something numb. I press my mouth to hers, sobbing, begging, refusing. “No. I won’t let you go. I can’t.” I bite into her neck. I don’t think. I don’t care. I feed—desperate and frantic—her blood flooding my mouth as if I can force life back into her, as if love and hunger and willpower can undo death.
“Lucian,” Silas says, a hand gripping my shoulder. “It’s too late.”
I wrench away from him. “No!” I snarl. “She cannot leave me.”
“Lucian,” Cain says softly, voice breaking. “Brother, listen. She’s gone.”
I freeze. Her body is still in my arms. Too still. Her skin—once warm, once alive—is already cooling. Her eyes, always bright with fire and amusement, stare empty and dim. I press trembling fingers to her neck, searching, begging for her pulse, my comfort. Nothing.
Cain tries to help me stand. “Let’s get you inside.”
“Get off,” I bark. I force myself upright, ignoring theagony tearing me apart, clutching her lifeless body to my chest. I carry her through the storm as rain and thunder rage overhead, the sky howling like it understands my grief, like it knows I’ve just lost everything.
Ilay her in my bed, sitting beside her, refusing to move, refusing to leave her. Her hand is clutched in mine. As I stare at her lifeless body, nothing can compare to the pain I feel right now. Not even the pain Anathema inflicted on me.
“She gave me this to give to you,” Cain states behind me. I slowly tear my gaze from her to look at him. His usually vibrant red eyes are dim with grief. He holds out a small envelope. I take it from him, not saying a word as I rip it open and unfold the note. I trace my fingers over her handwriting.
Lucian.
I couldn’t tell you in person, but in the back of the book, Sister Mary Joan wrote a note just for me, saying I’m the only one who could save you. And I guess if you’re reading this, then itworked. I saved you. Who would have thought this delicate little virgin mortal would save you, the big badass vampire? I never said this, but Sister Mary Joan used to tell me: death is easy. Watching a loved one perish is the ultimate sacrifice.
In the short time we had—somehow, being locked in this compound for... (I still don’t know how long)—you’ve given me the world. You’ve shown me a love that I never thought was possible. Just know, wherever I am now, I will be waiting for you. Waiting so we can finish our story together.
I love you, and even as I write it, that doesn’t convey everything I feel for you; my captor, my beautiful monster, my kind vampire.
Your Petal.
Xxx
P.S. Please don’t hook up with that Seraphine, because she’s a real bitch. Anyone but her.
I smile as tears sting my eyes, looking at her lying before me. I press a kiss to the note and place it on her. I hear someone enter behind me. “Leave me be.”
“Lucian… Prez.” Hex says my name like it might shatter him.
I turn, the pain in my chest is a living thing, ripping through every fibre of what’s left of me. “What?”
“I need to talk to you. Outside.” He jerks his thumb toward the hall and doesn’t wait for an answer.
I release her hand with effort, like peeling myself away from my own heart, and follow him.
Hex drags his hands through his hair, fists curling tight. “It’s my fault.”
The words hit wrong. Dangerous. “Explain,” I snarl, fury already boiling.
“I gave Lilith the antidote. To the vial you used to put her to sleep.” His voice cracks under the weight of it.
I step into his space. “You want to elaborate,” I growl, “before I tear the answer out of you?”
