Vairik’s smile faded. “You’re right. For your betrayal, I ensured your mother and siblings were no longer family either.” Gavin’s mouth fell open. “She begged, just thought you should know. Your mother was on her knees begging me to spare you and your sister. When I didn’t, she begged for the infant’s life, but what use is a youngling except for fodder?”
“You lie,” Gavin hissed.
“Why would I?” Vairik laughed again and held his arms out wide. “I’ve already won. There’s no more need for lies.”
Gavin winced and grabbed for his gaping wound, as if just now realizing the severity of it. He dropped to one knee, then gasped.
Vairik inclined his head toward Ellie and smiled. Rion’s blood chilled. “You pierced me with iron, dear Evelyn. I hope you’re prepared for the consequences.” Vairik looked at Rion next. “Try not to die. We have plans later.”
The ground shook beneath their feet. “Have fun.” The weight of Vairik’s magic lifted, then he disappeared into shadow.
Chapter Forty-Three
Ellie
She’d failed.
Again.
Vairik had been right in front of her. She’d put her blades through his body yet had missed his heart. She’d been so close.
So close.
Ellie stared down at her hands, her entire body trembling. She barely noticed the world exploding around her. The ground trembled. She fell to her knees.
No pain. No feeling. Just that ever-present numbness.
She’d failed.
She didn’t know where her weapons had fallen. She didn’t know where she was anymore. She just wanted to be back in that field. To be consumed by the scent of the meadow. To watch as the wind gently shifted the plains of grass. And to see—Ellie swallowed hard, the grief piercing through her heart all over again.
She’d failed him, too.
And when you wake from this nightmare—
No.
And when you wake from this nightmare—
NO.
Ellie gripped her head, ignoring the way grains of earth bit into her skin, things flying that she didn’t care about. Let it take her. Let her be done with this world.
“Evelyn.”
Her head jerked up when a slick hand touched her arm. Ellie stared at the face of the male through blurry vision. Copper hair shifted to black. His eyes turned darker, too. Just like the shadows.
The shadows, the shadows, the—
“Evelyn.” Gavin’s voice was gentle. “Stay with me.”
Her breathing hitched, heart aching. She didn’t want to be here.
“I can’t—” her voice cracked, broke. She couldn’t do this anymore. It hurt too much. She’d done too much. She couldn’t—she couldn’t—
Gavin’s arm gave out, and it was only then that Ellie realized the acrid tang so close wasn’t due to the monstrous bodies strewn across the field.
It was him.
