The tie!
But the thought came too late. Just like Silva had always been. Too late. Too absorbed.
Never meant to be queen.
She never should have been.
With a final blast of the power remaining inside her, she shot all her silver out of her body in thick spikes. It was automatic, a final plea to live. Each one pierced Kieran as he held on to her, his blackened blood spilling down over her.
Even that couldn’t warm her.
“Do you swear it?”
What? She couldn’t focus on the words. They filtered in and out of her brain as she coughed, blood choking her.
“Do you swear you knew nothing of it?”
Blood sprayed from her mouth. “I swear it.”
Silva stretched. She was so tired. Her fingers were slick, clumsy messes, but she still reached to place them on Kieran’s neck.
“I release you, Kieran of the Shadow. No … Heath. Heath, you are free.”
The brand sizzled, breaking apart into ashes and flying to the sky. Kieran watched her with wide eyes.
He ripped his blade from her heart, tossing it away. It clattered somewhere, the sound echoing in her head.
Kieran pulled Silva tighter, gripping her against his chest. “Stay, Niamh. Silva!”
But she couldn’t, no matter how much she tried.
“Silva!” Kalinda?
The magic in the runes snapped again. Kalinda had tried to break in. But until Silva’s heart stopped, they couldn’t get out, and her spikes hadn’t hurt Kieran enough. Even now, the silver cried, molten mercury melting from his body from his inherent heat. He was healing as she lay dying.
“Kalinda!”
Romano’s scream made Silva twitch, fight to stay awake, but she couldn’t move.
Silva swallowed, forcing her throat to work. “I am her Cosantiór. She will …”
“I will get them to safety,” Kieran promised.
That’s all she could ask.
Kieran shifted, still holding her against his chest, cradling her head on his shoulder. “If you don’t get Kalinda to someone, and fast, she will die.”
“Not before I kill you first, you piece of shit,” Romano roared.
“Silva is her Cosantiór,” Kieran tried again.
“Explain.”
Zahara.
“When Silva’s heart stops—” Kalinda wailed, breaking Kieran’s words. “Kalinda will die as well. They are tied by the soul. I … didn’t know.”
No, he hadn’t. Heath had disappeared shortly after Silva had come into her Fae powers. He’d run when he sensed her.
