Then she raises her arms, and the Shin’gwangdo appears in her hands, the blade pointing down ... at her.
“No, Sunny,” he pleads, struggling to get up only to collapse again. “Please. Don’t do this.”
The goddess of Light raises the sword high above her chest, then she plunges it deep into her heart.
“No!” the king cries.
Her back arches on a choked gasp, and tears leak out of her wide eyes, then ... she goes still. One by one, her fingers slip from the hilt of the sword until her arms drop to hang past her sides.
The King Foretold bows his head, pounding his fist on the hard ground, and weeps soundlessly with grief that penetrates the depth of his bones, his soul. By the time the sun rises, he is spent and motionless. Then ... a calm settles over him.
He will be with her again. He will soon become untethered from this life, with his fated love gone. Before long, his heart will give out, and he will follow her into the next life. He will not need to be alone for long.
“Good,” he murmurs as he closes his eyes for the last time. “I love you, Sunny. I’ll see you soon.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
Ethan
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Sunny murmurs. “It’s time to wake up, Ethan.”
Her voice sounds faraway. I feel as limp as a wilted dandelion, but I try to open my eyes. I’ll do anything for her.
She’s dead.
The thought pierces me like a bullet, and I cringe in pain, shutting my eyes tighter.Why am I conscious?I don’t want to exist without her. I can’t bear it.
“Ethan.” Her warm hand cups my cheek.Warm, not searing hot.“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
Isn’t she here, though? How else is she touching me? How can I feel her if she isn’t by my side?
“Nothing’s wrong,” I croak past my sandpapery throat, keeping my eyes firmly closed. “I’m not in pain.”
But where . . . is here?
It doesn’t matter. Wherever here is, all I need is to be with her. I should open my eyes. I would give anything to see her face again.
What if I’m dreaming? What if I open my eyes and she isn’t here?
I trap her hand against my cheek, holding my breath.
Keep dreaming, Ethan. Don’t wake up.
“Youareawake.” She drops a kiss on each of my eyelids. “Why won’t you look at me? My feelings are about to get hurt.”
My eyes shoot open. I would never do anything to hurt her, even if she’s only visiting my dreams—even if she is only a figment of my imagination.
Sunny smiles softly down at me, her hair falling past one shoulder.
Gods, she’s beautiful.
I want to smack my dream self in the head for keeping my eyes closed for so long. I could’ve been looking at her this whole time. I devour her with my eyes.
“Am I dead?” I honestly don’t give a damn as long as she’s with me.
“Nope,” she says, popping theP.Fucking adorable.If I could move, I would kiss the hell out of her.
“A-areyou... dead?” The air seizes in my lungs. Dream or not, I don’t want her to be dead.
