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I pound into her with a roar. The entire room blacks out, and I can faintly register various objects clattering to the ground.

My entire castle can collapse for all I care, because I would still have a home.

A glass shatters on the floor.

Akemi moans my name and I memorize the sound.

The pressure builds low in my stomach, and I want to chase this high forever. I’m getting close. It takes all of me to remove the shadows from around us. Like shifting an entire mountain—which I used to do with ease—the control over my powers takes all my effort.

Despite that, I want her to see this. See us.

A corner of my mind knows exactly why.

Why I’m so insistent on her watching.

The dots on my arm mimic me, hidden between swirling tattoos. Barely noticeable, but felt.

Not sure how long I have until those dots multiply and I lose all control. It isn’t safe to be around her. I shouldn’t even be here right now… but I cannot help myself. She is my weakness. I’ve said it before.

I want this moment recorded by the stars.

I want her to see us like this.

Remember me when I’m gone.

“Atlys,” she murmurs. Begs.

“Hold on, baby.” I grab her hips and push myself deeper than before as my shaft pulses, releasing inside of her. She screams, following me with her own release.

We grind our hips together, slick with our arousal, prolonging our pleasure.

“I love you,” she says.

“I love you too, my Sunrise.”

“I already miss you.”

You have no idea. “I’ll never be gone entirely. Not while there are still stars in the sky.”

Tears well in her eyes, and it kills me not to tell her about the illness. I’m stronger than most, more powerful. There still could be hope for me. Even if it’s only a thread.

“Will you escort me to the Surface?”

I trace along her chin, tilting it up, forcing her to meet my gaze. Twenty freckles. The slightly brighter spot in her left eye. The way the corners of her lips tilt up like she’s smiling. “I would be honored.”

33

Remember Your Duty

We wake up on top of the world on the second to last day of solstice break. Tonight is our final dinner with my father, where the information promised to us about the Marfik stone will finally be revealed.

Tomorrow, we head back to the Watch.

I’m not sure what I would have done here without Ramona at my side. Coming back to the Forest was not an easy decision, and I have the sinking feeling that it’s only going to become worse with time.

Tiny raspberry-filled breakfast pastries and steaming cups of bean brew appear at the opening of the Hollow. Ramona practically throws herself at the tray of food.

“Ohmysungod,” she says, mouth full, “this is amazing.”