“Are you real?” I dared to ask.
She didn’t answer in words. Her hand reached to my face, and her palm felt firm. The moment I knew that, I fell into her, holding her tightly as I sobbed.
“It’s not your time to pass yet,” she said gently.
When I found the will to let her go, Cassia wiped my tears tenderly. The warmth in her deep blue eyes freed some of the ache in me; she always did have that effect, a comforting aura that could lift the world off my shoulders when I was in her company.
“I think it’s long past my time,” I said. “But I have to find Nyte. Do you know where he is?”
“You’ll be with him soon.”
Cassia’s assurance eased my soul.
“Have you come to take me?”
She held my hands. Calix stood patiently by her side, his face a mask of pure contentment. I was so relieved to see their souls had reunited after their mortal time.
“We’ve come to take your place,” he said.
More confusion deepened my brow.
“I don’t understand.”
“You harbored our souls,” Calix explained. “We have enough of your essence and your power to take your place as the God of Dawn. We just need the one thing you’re holding onto.”
My next inhale staggered.
Take my place as Dawn?
No. That wasn’t the plan. If Nyte had to give himself to become Dusk, I was going with him.
As the Dawn and the Dusk.That was our promise.
“I’m so proud of you, Astraea,” Cassia said. “Watching all you’ve become… you’re living for both of us.”
My vision flooded again; the wound of losing her tore open to bleed me freely.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I croaked. Then my gaze slipped to Calix, who smiled. “Both of you.”
“I don’t believe that,” Cassia mused playfully. Her expression turned into bittersweet gratitude. “Thank you for sending him to me. For keeping us both safe even when you didn’t realize it.”
Cassia took her hands back from mine, now holding the vial of Dawn’s blood that Nyte had given me.
“Keep shining brightly. We’ll always be with you in every dawn.”
“What are you—?”
Cassia uncorked the bottle and brought it to her lips. An invisible hold kept me back, and I watched with growing dread as she handed the rest to Calix, who finished it.
“I need it!” I cried. “I need it to be with him.”
Oh gods. Nyte had found a way for us to stay together, and I’d let it slip from my hands. My friends thought they were helping, but they didn’t understand I wanted this. I couldn’t return to the mortal realm without him.
Calix took Cassia’s hand, and their forms began to fade.
“Please!” I cried.
I lost him. I lost everyone.
