“I’ve got you,” he whispered. “I’ve got you, Ethalyn. I-I’m here, let me anchor you.”
I didn’t fight him. Couldn’t. The fire inside me sputtered out, leaving only the hollow ache where Malakai had once been.
“He was biting you. He was taking all of your magic… How?” Ashley murmured confused behind us. “How did you survive, how did he…”
“I didn’t ask him to,” I choked, my words dissolving into sobs. “I didn’t want this—”
Lionel’s grip tightened, and I felt his tears on my neck, as Ashley started to sniffle. “I know… I know he saved all of us… But I kind of miss his half-demon arrogance right now,” Ashley sobbed.
Around us, the ruins hissed in the wind, the last embers of battle fading to nothing.
I took Malakai’s hand in mine,lifeless, no resistance, no warmth as I whispered into the silence. “You weren’t supposed to keep that promise.”
No answer.
No miracle.
Only the steady, relentless beat in my chest, the one that should have been his.
Thud. Thud.
“You were supposed to stay at my side… Why… why are you leaving me? Don’t leave me behind… Please.” I sobbed, my whole body trembling.
“Ethalyn,” I heard Lionel’s voice as his arms tightened around me. “Ethalyn, I’m so… I’m so sorry.”
“Please,” I pleaded once more. “Don’t leave me.”
“We… We have to go,” Lionel said, his voice broken too.
“We can’t just leave him here—” Ashley interrupted, her voice cracking through her pain.
I stroked Malakai’s white-silvery hair that was filled with ash, tracing down to his cheek. “Malakai, please… Take it back.”
Nate walked up to us. Without so much as a word, he took one of Malakai’s arms and put it around himself, then heaved him up with a pained grunt.
“You’re injured; you shouldn’t—” Ashley began but was cut off.
“He carried me,” Nate shot back firmly, eyes glaring furiously. “I’m returning the favor.”
Jaden swooped up on his other side, trying to help him.
I wrapped my arms around myself, body breaking, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. “Please.” My eyes followed him, his arm hanging loose in the air,lifeless.
Lionel shifted his arms around me, before he lifted me off the ground and carried me in his arms. “Don’t worry, we’re not leaving him behind.”
“Shit,” Eve breathed out on my other side, as she placed one of her hands on my shoulder. “I’m sorry Ethalyn… Really.”
“He’s just resting,” I whispered to myself, desperately trying to still my nerves, my eyes locked on them carrying him.
“Come this way, we can follow the edge to get down without climbing.” Jaden pointed and they kept going.
“He’s just resting, right?” I murmured.
Lionel and Eve glanced at each other, but neither of them dared utter another word.
“Malakai,” I whispered again, tears slipping down my cheek as my heart painfully kept beating.
CHAPTER
