“NO!”
I gripped his body tighter to me.
“Ryker.” Zandyr leaned down, arms stretched for Geryll. “I’ll take him–”
“No!” I twisted away, like a feral animal, covering Geryll’s body with mine like I could protect him now.
He was so cold.
My tears fell onto his cheeks, mixing in with the blood.
“The gods are waiting for him,” Zandyr said gently. “Don’t keep his soul trapped between the worlds.”
“They can wait,” I said viciously.
I started wiping his cheek again. The same cheek which had dimpled the first time he’d successfully deflected Nadya’s attack.
He’d never smile again.
Geryll was dead.
He’d died right in front of me.
And what an awful death it had been, mauled by a monster which shouldn’t have existed.
“Ryker.” Zandyr’s tone turned forceful–and alarmed.
I knew what he saw.
His feared Commander breaking.
Broken.
Let him go, Ryker, a sweet, gentle voice echoed in my mind.
I shook my head, closing my eyes as if reality would change when I opened them again.
It didn’t.
He needs to be with his ancestors, that same voice whispered.They’re waiting for him.
They were.
They were trying to take him away from me.
He is not yours to keep. Set him free.
I sucked in breath after breath, but I still suffocated under the pain.
I looked down at Geryll’s face once more, so terrified and empty.
He wasn’t here anymore.
I embraced him one last time, uncaring of the blood that spilled onto me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered into his hair.
Trembling, I rose, clutching his body, still powerless to let go.
