Now that I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, the numbing rot inside eases back some. I won’t be able to revoke my consent. Somehow, I know I could run a thousand miles away, and the tentacles would still draw from me. But I can move again, so I force myself back to my feet. I see the rip between our world and Hell push outwards, layer after layer rapidly peeling back. In a single breath, it’s three times as large as it was before. And it’s still growing.
Savadeva was right, I am just what he needed. His whole cadaverous face pushes through, draped in tatters of rotten flesh, and over twice as big as my whole body. It’s pale, decomposed, nightmarish, and so very pleased. Valiente also grins with malice from his perch, a god’s power within his grasp. Instead of questionable hours, it’ll be a matter of seconds now, and he knows it.
Facing this for real, I actually don’t feel brave, not like I hoped I would. I don’t want to do this. But there’s no time, and I have only one play left.
I shove the watch into the side pocket of my pants, simultaneously flip Valiente and his god a full bird each just for the style points—and then use every remaining ounce of super-strength within me to leap into the deadly barrier between us.
21
God-tier toxic magicisn’t subtle.
It’s like I’ve thrown my whole body into an electric socket. Honestly, not the most painful thing I’ve felt today, but it is the most intense, even with my soul currently connected to Savadeva and his puppet strings.
It won’t be connected for long, though. The vampires who hit the barrier boiled away in less than a second. My monster is fighting at full red alert right now, furiously consuming my remaining power to keep me alive and intact. But Mom was afraid of this thing, so incubus juice isn’t going to buy me much time.
I can’t see anything—my vision is a blaze of black and purple—but I know I’m stuck face-first to the Hell wall. There’s some kind of flash, the watch in my pocket shudders, and then it’s like millions of stinging bugs crawl around my entire body, encasing me. This is how the others got dissolved. Terrifying, but all according to plan. I feel the siphons from the kids burn off me, and the drain of my serene magic stops in its tracks. Savadeva isn’tgetting through and, in a few more seconds, Valiente won’t have anyone he can use as a bridge. The world will finally be safe from this ritual, hopefully forever.
And the cherry on top? I held up my side of the bargain—doesn’t matter what I did after, Iconsentedto being the bridge—so the Vampire King has to let those kids go home to their families. A god’s promise can’t be broken, after all.
So, in the end, I won. I actually won. Against some real heavy hitters.
I’m not going to lie, that feels pretty damn good.
Now, I just need to die.
I close my eyes. With my magic not being sucked away, the limitless peace and tranquility fills my body once more, making all of this easier. Time slows down. First my fear lifts. Then all my pain.
A pleasant warmth kisses my cheeks, sunlike and mild. I open my eyes to see I’m in some kind of garden, delicately woven with pastel-colored flowers. It’s mid-morning. Bright blue birds are chirping. Their small round bodies line the tree branches above me like vibrant ornaments. There’s a gentle breeze. And best of all, Collin,myCollin, is hovering close, just a couple feet away. He’s smiling, like he’s been waiting for me. He steps in, slides those surprisingly strong biceps around my back, and hugs me tight. I melt into his embrace, and the warmth of his body enveloping mine floods me with happiness.
You know, I never thought heaven was in the cards for me, but I am here for it. Especially if I get to spend the rest of eternity in my spirit boyfriend’s loving arms.
I kiss his neck and murmur in his ear, “Wow, dude.Didn’t realize you were anactualangel. But I guess it makes sense. Probably should have figured that one out on my own.”
He laughs and nips playfully at my lips. “Considering what you just did, I’d say you’re a lot more angelic than I am. You chose to sacrifice yourself to save the world, didn’t you?”
I shrug, happy and content. “Well, you know… It’s the best I could come up with on short notice.”
“Alvin, don’t sell yourself short! That was pure class!”
I can’t help grinning. “It was kinda kick-ass, wasn’t it? Shame I couldn’t see Valiente’s face before I died. I bet his head exploded with anger or something.” I nuzzle my nose back into the soft skin of his neck, inhaling the scent of cloves and campfire. “I guess I’ll just have to be okay with spending eternity in heaven with you.” Mid-breath, I’m caught short and pull back. “Idoget eternity here, right? This isn’t, like, a short-term reprieve or waystation or something, is it?”
Collin laughs. “Alvin, if there is a heavenly reward for any of us, I have no doubt you’ll get the full package. You certainly deserve it.” Then he sobers. “But here’s the thing. You’re not dead. You’re still in that underground cavern, stuck to the toxic barrier. I’ve just amped up your neurotransmitters, slowed down time for you, and given us a place where we could talk. Like I did at the druid’s house, the last garden we were both in.”
I scrunch my brows, confused. “Wait. You’re saying I haven’t been dissolved yet? This is just something you’re putting in my head?” I freeze. “But… I thought you could only do that if you were in the watch…”
“And you were right. I couldn’t leave you behind, especially once I realized what you were doing. Just before you got encased by the toxic magic, I zipped back through the golden door and into the artifact in your pocket and reconnected the tether. You made your choice. I got to make a choice, too.”
“But-but you’ll be killed!” I can’t believe this is happening. My heart sinks like a stone. I then stop, trying to catch up. He is a spirit. There’s no body to rip apart. “I mean,right?”
“The toxic magic was built to stop a god—there’s no reason to think I’ll be immune to it. If you don’t do anything, then yes, I expect the watch will be destroyed and me along with it.”
My hands shoot out with horror, fingers spread into frozen, panicked claws. “Collin! No! This is a one-way ticket. I can’t stop it!”
My sweet magical boyfriend remains infuriatingly calm. “Maybe so. In which case, at least our last moments will be together. But Savadeva was willing to strike a bargain with you, which he wouldn’t do unless your magic was very special. If what I now suspect is true, the only reason the barrier is a threat to you is because you arechoosingto sacrifice yourself.”
I try to wrap my head around that. “You think I could be strong enough to resist god-tier magic? I know you believe in me and stuff, but that’s… that’s a big leap. And even if it wasn’t, Ihaveto die. It’s the only way to keep a literal apocalypse from happening!”
Collin bites his lower lip, making a decision. “I think it’s time to tell you about that question I asked.” He takesmy palms in his and squeezes them gently, forcing me to relax. “As you already know, Valiente had me for ages.”
