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She doesn’t stop. She’s going to die.

No.

I feel adrenaline burst in my chest. My eyes meet the grimoire when I hear it, loud in my head.

“You know what you need to do.” The voice of the grimoire reverberates through my mind, as if it’s guiding me to what I need to do.

Kai’s words replay in my mind again. Blood must be spilled.

“You can’t escape your death, monster!” Gregor mutters; it comes out guttural and wrong.

My body moves in the same moment on its own without hesitation.

I’m sorry, little ghost. She has to stop.

I dive for the dagger in the center of the ritual circle.

I won’t let Calli die this way.

I lift the blade, filling my lungs with air as I plunge it into my chest, the blade sharp enough to pierce the bone and cartilage. I hold there for a moment, barely processing what I’ve done.

I feel no pain, just—pressure. I don’t feel my knees buckle as I collapse onto the ground; all I feel is the warmth of my own blood pooling around me.

I hope I did it right.

For just a moment I process that I am dying, and a part of me wants to panic—to desperately cling to myself—but as I choke on my own blood, the taste of iron drowns everything out.

My vision fades fast as I make out Calli’s face, her image fuzzy as Gregor drops to his knees. I see her mouth open. I hear nothing, but I can tell she’s screaming. My vision tunnels and my mind drifts—to you.

Maybe… in another life. I’ll find you. Please forgive me for breaking my promise.

I love you.

CHAPTER 41 CALLI

“Cade!” My scream is desperate. The room quiets as Gregor falls back against the wall, pinned by the large pillars as I desperately crawl to my brother.

I stare at the blade sticking out of his chest. I check for a pulse but I can’t find any. My hands go to his cheeks and I realize I’m covered in his blood and mine.

“What did you do? What were you thinking?” I plead as tears begin falling from my eyes, my forehead dropping to his chest. “This isn’t happening. You can’t be gone, this isn’t real. It can’t be!”

I feel Kai’s hands move gently over my shoulders, the weight of him doing nothing to ease me.

“Why would he do this?” I shriek as I force the question out of my mouth.

I look up at Kai, desperately seeking an answer that will make this make sense, but his face… His face tells me he knew this was going to happen.

“Cal— He did it to save you.” His voice is painfully low.

“None of this was worth it if he had to die!” I scream, pushing him off me with my hand.

I look down at my brother; he’s still not moving. I grip his shoulders, shaking him as if I can wake him up.

He can’t be gone. He can’t be…

I did everything I could to help. He did so much for me, sacrificed everything… for me. That’s why I called you, to keep him safe.

“You were supposed to protect him! Not me! How could you let this happen?”