Closing her eyes against the sudden wave of agony, she held on to him, willing him to live. “You can’t leave me,” she whispered. “I won’t let you.”
Rage filled her as she grabbed Thorn’s shoulder. “Do something! Heal him!”
“I don’t have those powers. Conceived in deception. Born for destruction.”
“Shadow?” Adidiron was his father. Surely, he could do something.
“I’ll get Acheron. Hold on.” Oblivious to the humans around them, he vanished.
Ariel bit her lip. “Did you hear that? Shadow has help coming. Just hold on, my love.”
Valteri cupped her cheek and smiled. “I…”
The light faded from his eyes and his hand fell from her face.
“Nay!” she screamed.
This was not how he would end.
This was not how she’d let it end.
Suddenly, she felt a burning inside her as her powers returned.
All around her, psychopomps appeared, claiming souls.
She saw them so clearly.
Ariel looked up and met the sad eyes of Raziel, who’d come for Valteri’s.
Hollow and aching, Ariel rose to her feet. She would not allow this to happen. With a courage she’d never had before, she faced her brother and willed Valteri’s soul back into his body.
“You can’t do this, Ariel.” Raziel stood firm before her. “You know the rules and the limits of your power.”
“You’re not taking him. I will not allow this!”
“You can’t stop it.” Raziel held out his hand for Valteri.
With a confused expression, his soul rose up from his body and reached for Raziel.
Nay. Nay. Nay!
Desperation filled her. She would not allow them to steal the life and soul of an innocent man. He had suffered too much to have this be his ending.
“You’re not taking him!” she repeated.
Before Raziel could move, she grabbed the one thing she knew would end this.…
The dagger from Thorn’s side.
Without a second thought or hesitation, she plunged it deep into her own heart.
Pain spread through her like fire.
“No!” Raziel screamed.
Thorn cursed as he caught her in her arms. “What have you done!”
“I can’t let him pay for my sins.”
