She lay huddled beneath the thick covers. But nothing could warm her. Not anymore. Even her retribution at finally killing Mammon didn’t ease her agony because it didn’t bring Nik back.
He was her sun.
Her light.
He’d shown her the dawning of an amazing love, only to have destiny snatch it and shatter her apart.
Chapter 33
“What the hellis that creature doing?” a distant male voice tugged Shadow to the living yet again. “It’s destroying the damn gardens…”
A faint whine coasted to her.
Shadow shut her dry eyes, blocking out the dimly lit room, blocking out everything. Too weak to move, she lay there. But awake now, she paid the price of remembering again.
She never realized that horrid day would be their last hug, their last kiss. Or, that she’d never hear his voice again, see his quiet smile. A smile she wanted a million more of before they both took their last breath.
Her eyes burned. She pressed her fist to her hurting breastbone and curled into herself beneath the covers. Not even the piercing throb in her chest at her symbionts gnawing need for feeding made her get up. As their strength waned, so did hers. Weakness swamped her.
In her peripheral mind, a void opened, reaching out with foggy arms, promising eternal peace…
“She’s fading.” Echo’s worried voice followed her into the dark. “This rapid weight loss isn’t good. She needs something more than healing.”
I need Nik.
Gentle fingers swept back her hair, and Shadow reluctantly opened her eyes, meeting Kira’s warm smile and troubled stare. “You must have this, the Oracle insists.” With determination, she helped Shadow up and held a glass of the thick herbal drink to her lips to consume once again.
With no fight in her, Shadow tasted nothing as she swallowed the glop, then she lay down again, curling into herself.
A low whine reached her again.
“It’s that creature,” Echo whispered. “He’s out there again. He’s come every night for the past two weeks and destroys the gardens before he leaves.”
“Sheesh, of course!” Kira burst out. “Give me a minute.” Her voice lowered, “Hey, Heds, could you come up here, please? I need your help.”
Shadow shut them out, willing herself back to sleep, so she could pass out.
A door opened.
Whispers of conversation.
“I don’t think it’s wise, Kira,” Hedori said.
“But the warriors told us what it did. It protected her. Think about it? That’s a dark creature from the demon world. Shadow explained what she needed…”
More murmurs, and Shadow stopped listening. Her mind looped back to the only place she wanted to be right now, remembering Nik’s warm body next to hers. His smile when she woke up. No matter the time, he was always up before her. Memories flooded her…
Her eyes opened. A smile tugged her mouth. “Stop staring.”
“Why?” he asked in a sleep-husky voice, pale eyes tender. “I like watching you awaken. Your smile is my favorite thing in the morning…and all day long. I thank whichever Fate brought you into my life.”
His words seared her mind, melting her frozen emotions, causing the dry well inside her to squeeze out more tears, and she buried her face in her pillow.
“Shadow?” Kira gently stroked her shoulder. “You have a visitor.”
I don’t want to see anyone.She didn’t want to see the pity in their eyes. Then the mattress disappeared as someone picked her up. She gasped, her eyelids flying open, to encounter gentle, orange-green eyes.
Hedori smiled as he carried her, covers and all, like an invalid.
