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Tears streaked down my cheeks. I knew what he was asking me to do. I couldn’t. Maybe I was selfish, but I wanted more time. “I could’ve gotten you out of that house,” I told him. “I promised to release you from her.”

“No, it was … glorious. And you did … release me. Thank you, Aura.”

“For what?”

“Loving … me.”

I pressed my hand over the gaping hole in his chest. “Thank you for loving me,” I said. Then I thrust my hand through his chest and yanked his heart free. I didn’t look at it; I tried not to even feel it. I dropped it aside, and immediately his skin started to crack and split, like spiderwebs across his body. His face was void of color, then calcified to something like marble. The life drained out of his body and at last out of his eyes.

I stared at the combination of beauty and horror. Immortalized like art.

I don’t know how long I sat there, staring at his lifeless face. Until someone was hoisting me up from the ground. Until something cold latched around my wrists. I glanced around frantically as the guards began to haul me out of the room. Because even after all of this, there was a warrant out for my arrest that they had to enforce. “Wait!” My voice came out on a broken sob.

There was no fight left in me. My feet were numb as I simply went along with them. Students had gathered in the hallway, more guards back at their posts, their presence intimidating. Whispers and gasps rushed through the crowd. I kept my head down, conscious of Irving’s blood on my hands and how guilty I must’ve looked. Then Magdalena’s voice cut through the soul ache starting to spread through me.

Sweet, sweet Irving. He deserved better. He’d given his life to save me, the fool. I would’ve survived. He couldn’t.

“Where are you taking her?” Magdalena insisted. “She’s innocent. We have proof!”

My head snapped up, my eyes locking on to Sylvan’s right beside her. His heart was pounding, temperature rising as his hands morphed into claws at his side. As his eyes started to glow with fury, I met his vengeful gaze and shook my head. Stay calm, I thought. Stay calm for me. Please.

His shoulders lowered, hands fully humanlike again as the glow subsided from his eyes. He looked at me with perplexity before calm understanding relaxed his features.

“Aura!” Magdalena shouted after me as I was pulled out of the university. “We’ll get you out, I swear!”

Once, I would’ve thought myself incapable of such attachment to another person. For so long, my little bubble had been just me and my battle with Lobofebris. Now it wasn’t physical pain that gnawed at me but the odd sensation of a gaping hole in my chest. A perfect match for Irving’s death, I supposed.

I kept seeing his body turn to stone in my mind’s eye. I kept hearing those last words, kept replaying the moment outside of the Ministry room when he’d told me that he trusted me. He’d trusted me, and I’d let him down.

As I sat there on the hard chair, my cuffed hands atop the table in the sterile interrogation room, I could almost hear his voice as clear as if he was standing beside me. I always told you I was too pretty to be undead.

A small, wet chuckle left my lips. He’d never liked being a vampire. He’d made the best of it, but he hated the existence. Perhaps he was at peace now. Gods, I hoped so.

I’d scrubbed my hands as best as I could on my dress, but his blood was still crusted on my skin. I felt dirty, like a huge part of me had been ripped from my very being. As if triggered by the sentiment, the claiming bite on my neck tingled. I craved the feel of Sylvan’s comforting embrace, the sound of his sonorous voice. I craved that feeling of belonging I never thought I could have.

It was a shame I was held up in this interrogation room. I was sure I’ll be behind bars soon enough, but at least there was one good thing: so was Bellatrix.

“Miss Nygaard,” came a voice in the silence. My heart rate doubled as my head wrenched up from the table where I’d inevitably fallen asleep. My bleary eyes struggled to clear.

“You’re free to go,” said the woman in a guard uniform. I reached up to rub my eyes before the smell of dried blood reminded me of my state. I slid my hands over my dress again, the chain of the cuffs rattling, and the metal chafing my skin. “Come along,” the guard said, impatiently.

I eyed her warily as I pushed my chair back and got to my feet. “I’m … free to go?” I asked, uncertain if I’d heard incorrectly.

“Yes.” She didn’t say anything more as she unlatched the handcuffs and tucked them into her belt. I’d been stripped of my own belt, yet another part of me missing. Numbly, I signed the paperwork for my release and followed the officer without speaking.

There, at the front desk of the prison, Magdalena and Sylvan awaited me. I rushed right into their waiting arms, unable to hold back my tears.

“Let’s get you home,” Magdalena said at last. “You deserve a long bath and some rest.”

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“There was an entire room of witnesses who heard Bellatrix’s confession. Already the news—or rumors, at the moment—of her Turning humans is spreading. The Ministry vouched for your innocence, as did many students from your alchemy class.”

Innocence. Somehow the word felt undeserved. I’d been blamed for so much in my lifetime. “But I’m a hybrid,” I whispered.

Magdalena smiled and shrugged. “A discussion for another time, I’m sure.”

As we headed out of the building, the balmy air greeting us, Sylvan wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Why aren’t you getting Clover out of Sublune Creek?” I asked him.