Page 173 of Our Dark Incantations

“Obryn is the only one. I asked him for help during the war. He took an oath never to tell anyone. We had hoped breaking the enthrallment would buy me more time, but it didn’t.”

Her hand went to his back, holding on to his shoulders, memorizing how each tendon felt under her fingertips.

“You should have told me,” she said between sobs. “I could have been researching a cure this whole time.”

“That’s exactly what I didn’t want you to do: spend whatever short amount of time we have in a lab, chasing a cure that doesn’t exist.”

“There has to be a way to save you.”

He shook his head. “Obryn tried. For years. The Dark Magic from the enthrallment keeps slowly poisoning me. I’ve accepted my outcome. I’m not scared of death. I’m only scared of losing you.” His thumb traced her jaw gently. “Losing the chance to marry you. To grow old with you. I wanted more time to love you because it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Tears blurred her vision. Her lungs burned. “Please…” It was the only word she could speak.

“I don’t want you to be burdened by this. No more grief for you. Just live, Mira. Kiss someone more deserving of you under the stars. Laugh with them because it’s the most beautiful sound in the world. You’ve earned it. You’ve earned happiness.”

“Then make me only forget I found out.”

He shook his head as his hand moved from her wrist and his fingers intertwined with hers. She held on to them with everything she had. “I’ve been selfish. I should have done this a while ago, but I can’t seem to say goodbye.”

Her heart broke, shattering into a million pieces. She sobbed uncontrollably, and he sighed her name, pulled her closer, and kissed her forehead.

“How…how much longer?” Every word hurt her soul.

Aidric bit his lips into a tight line. “A few weeks. Maybe a month. Symptoms are getting worse. We’re upping the dosage of direweed, but it only makes a marginal difference now.”

She was on the edge of completely falling apart, feeling the abyss only inches away from her. But she couldn’t give up. Not yet.

She swallowed hard, trying to steel herself. “I will save you, Aidric Dawson.” Her voice rang with equal measures of desperation and determination.

He smiled softly at her. “You already have. In more ways than one.”

And then he pulled her into a kiss, and when his lips found hers, she knew what this was. A kiss goodbye.

Her hand went into his hair while she opened her mouth for him, allowing their tongues to meet. She wanted to stay in the moment forever, to memorize each detail. The way his body felt against hers. The feel of his hair under her fingers. The way he kissed her, as if he was starved and needed every inch of her. The taste of spearmint dancing on her tongue. How his large hands held her with quiet strength.

When he broke the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers and silent tears escaped his eyes.

“I love you, Mira Winters.” He whispered it like a prayer. His hand tangled in her hair, holding her close. She didn’t want to let him go. Not now. Not ever. “Come find me again, Mira, in another life. One where I get more time with you. One where I get to love you longer.”