Page 128 of No One’s Daughter

“Wait—” I choked, the word barely forming as my entire body locked in place.

He reached for the mask.

Time slowed.

The world narrowed to that single moment, as his fingers curled around the edge of it and lifted.

My lungs refused to work.

And then I saw her.

Claire.

Something inside me shattered completely.

“Claire—”

Her name ripped from me, broken and desperate, as I lunged forward again, fighting with everything I had, even though I knew—knew—that I couldn’t change what was about to happen.

Her eyes—glassy, unfocused—shifted slightly at the sound, like some part of her still recognised me.

And Valerius… he just watched.

Watched me break.

Watched her sway.

Watched it all like it was nothing more than theatre.

Then, without a flicker of hesitation.

He made that same small, final move.

And the world ended.

I crashed to my knees before her—the hands that had held me finally letting go—desperate to save her. To do anything to save her from this.

​This was all my fault.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” I cried, pushing the palm of my hand against her throat. But it was no use. My vision blurred with tears and blood kept pouring from the wound.

It was so deep.

Too deep.

There was so much blood.

“I love you,” I sobbed.

“I know.”

I held her close. Normally, I would have been scared to be around so much human blood. Scared that the monster in me would take over but I knew nothing mattered more than this moment right now. Nothing mattered but her and I wouldn’t let her go through this alone.

Visions of our life together flooded my mind, her laughter, her bright eyes, her unwavering love for me.

I rocked her in my arms as I vowed to tear apart the world for her.

I was vaguely aware that everyone was looking at us, but I didn’t care about them, they’d have to kill me before I let go of her.