I let out a disgusted noise. “We’re talking about fanatical nationalists, Emma. Look at history. Look at what happened with the Great Supernatural War. Do you want that to happen again? Because itwillwith them in charge, and then countless fae will die. The supernatural world won’t survive another catastrophe like that. The Phantom is trying to prevent that war from happening.”
Emma’s voice rose in frustration. “You’re becoming a fanatical nationalist yourself! You’re so concerned with trying to save your country, you don’t realize your actions are going to ruin it! You’re turning into a fascist.”
I despised that word, and that she’d accused me of it. I’d fought my whole life to stop racialists from taking over my home. I wouldn’t be portrayed as becoming one myself. “It seems you’re asking me to choose,” I said, and I crossed my arms.
“I am.” Her voice didn’t waver. Emma stood tall as she said, “If you want to be with me, you have to put aside the Phantom. Youneedto choose, Ethan. The Phantom, or me.”
I gave a huff. “Are you willing to give up being the White Rose?”
“For you? Absolutely,” Emma said. “I don’t even have to give it a second thought. I have no connection to her. The White Rose is just a costume. She’s not a person, or a part of me.”
Her eyes hardened. “But the Phantomisa part of you. A piece I’m asking youto set free.Your choices and actions become different when you’re the Phantom versus when you’re Prince Ethan. You’re willing to do things you’d normally never consider. You become someone else when you put on that mask, and I don’t like it. If you still want him in your life, then I can’t be with you anymore.”
My heart grew cold. She was asking me to pick between her and my moral code. Her and mycountry.How could she ask for such a sacrifice? “The Phantom is the only one protecting Dolinska against the Black Claw. If I give up being the Phantom, I give up Malovia.”
“Dolinska has all of us. With our friends, we can protect the country, even save it.” Emma held her breath. “But if you keep working as the Phantom, your attention is going to be divided. And our chances of finding the crystals become even less than what they already are.”
“There are six of us. Surely you don’t need my help,” I said sourly.
“We’re all in this together! We took an oath!” Emma said. “Unifying as one is the only way to stop what’s coming, and it’s never going to work if you want to keep playing your vigilante side-show.”
“Prince Ethan died with his father,” I growled. “You want me to stop being the Phantom? I can’t do that. Iamthe Phantom now.”
“That’s not true! You’re kind! You’re decent. And loving! Those are all things the Phantom could never be,” she pleaded. “I know you think what you’re doing is some sort of noble sacrifice. But what’s the point of saving Malovia if you have to lose your soul to do it?”
She was close to tears. I didn’t realize how badly she wanted me to let this go, until now. She was begging me to leave the Phantom behind, and choose her.
I’d never admit this out loud. But the Phantom was the only connection I had left to my father. I’d become a vigilante in his name, and swore to continue the work he didn’t get to finish. Though he’d died nearly a year ago... I wasn’t ready to give my father up.
Not even for Emma’s sake.
I hardened my words. “If this is the way things are going to be, then I don’t want any part of it. Break up with me, if you like. But I’m not going to stop being the Phantom.”
It was then Emma’s resolve broke. Her face fell— a few tears slipped out of her eyes, and her lip quivered. She couldn’t believe the choice I’d made.
I could hardly believe it myself. There was a time I’d give up anything for Emma if she asked. I wouldn’t think twice.
Yet there were other people involved. This wasn’t about us anymore.
“Fine. We’re done.” Emma wiped at her face. She gave a sniff before she added, “I guess that says a lot about your mate, when you’re willing to make a sacrifice for him, and he can’t do the same in return.”
Her words stung me, surging to my core. My temper rose, and my tone became nasty. “And how do I know you weren’t working with Gabby all along, huh?” I shot the words at her, to drown out the sound of my own heart breaking. “You gave Gabby that necklace to plant in our tent, to get us kicked out of the Contest! You’ve been playing their side all along!”
I regretted what I said the moment my words stabbed her. Emma’s eyes widened in disbelief. She put a hand over her mouth to suppress a sob as she shook her head and turned away from me. “You know what, Phantom? Find me when Ethan comes back.”
She ran out of the courtyard. I almost reached a hand out to grab her shoulder— to tell her to stay, to beg her forgiveness and take back everything I’d said.
But I didn’t. I let her go.
When she’d vanished from my eyesight, I fell to my knees. I knelt on the ground on all fours, putting my head to the grassy area beside the pool to sob. I hadn’t let tears fall for a very long time, but they came, pouring onto the earth as I wept in agony at the separation between me and my mate.
I knew pain. I had befriended it over the years of my life, but this pain was worse than any I’d ever experienced— even worse than the death of my father.
I thought this pain would be worth it, to protect my countrymen and defend Malovia. But right now, that sacrifice seemed weak in the ever encompassing loss that was the absence of Emma’s love.
I knew what I’d said wasn’t true. Emma had never been playing Gabby’s side. I said those things out of anger, because she’d chosen to leave me.
I’d done so much damage tonight. And not just with my blade. There were broken pieces between Emma and I that I could never repair. My darker impulses had taken over, and chased away the woman I loved.
