Christine sighs, her breath whispering along my collarbone, and she loses consciousness in my arms, the throb of her pulse slowing.
Just a few more pulls.
With my eyes scrunched in grief, I pray to the gods to take her.
And then Ifeelthe moment she leaves us.
I wish I could go with her.
King Nerian claps. “Ah, see! It all worked out. Everyone got what they wanted. And didn’t she taste fucking fabulous?”
My eyes snap open. “If you’ll excuse me, Nerian,” I say, voice wavering. I’m balancing on an edge and just might ruin our welcome in this court with the rage and sorrow running through me with no mercy and no end in sight.
I need to get out of this room.
Nerian grins at me. “Of course, my dear. Goenjoyyourself.”
I rise from my chair with Christine draped in my arms and walk out of the dining room without another word, her body and my soul dead.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to her over and over, heels clacking amid grave silence while Goreon guards lined along the hallway assess me suspiciously. I see myself through the grand foyer, and males pull open the iron doors of the entrance as Balor comes up behind me, barreling past and cutting me off.
“Where do you think you’re going, Queen?” he demands.
“Where are the wood stores?” I ask.
The guard beside us eyes Christine and steps forward, face softening so slightly I almost miss it. He nods his chin to the right.
I brush past General Balor as he turns his scowl on his guard. “Who thefuckgave you permission to step out of yourline?” he growls and launches his soldier into the wall, along with a fuming lecture as I walk away.
Asshole.
Second and Del chase after me as I snap to the edges of the enormous stronghold and find the firewood storage.
“Veya,” Second says.
I spin, clutching Christine.
“Let us help you,” he offers gently, eyes reflecting the burden neither of us thought I would ever bear.
I nod, standing aside, and hold Christine while the males build a pyre.
I might be in Goreon territory, a place I doubt a pyre has ever been built for a human, but I’m the Queen of the Night Kingdom, and this is howwedo things.
Enemy soil or not.
The freezing wind whips at my skirts, and I pull Christine closer to keep her warm. My pointless act shreds my heart, and it bleeds out as I squeeze a dead girl tighter.
Del and Second lift the final log and secure it before turning to me, their breath heavy with their quick effort. I place Christine atop the structure, her frail frame freezing in my memory as her blood courses through me.
“May the gods keep you and hold you,” I tell her, brushing hair from her face and closing her sapphire eyes.
Second steps up next to me, threading his fingers through mine. “May the gods keep you and hold you.”
Del moves next to the pyre with a torch and looks at me, the firelight dancing in his violet eyes. He gives me a sad smile, waiting for my command.
I’ll never forget the kindness Del showed me tonight. No matter how all this ends.
I nod at Del.
