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I groaned as the sweltering heat made it difficult to think clearly. I hunched over, my body drooping from exertion. Fatigue dragged my body downward, my limbs aching and my bones weary. “I kept things from you, too, Cerise. If you can forgive me, you can forgive her.”

“But Gran… My grandmother…” Cerise’s voice broke on another sob.

“She was not your grandmother,” I snarled. “She was a twisted old hag who saw you as an experiment and nothing more. It doesn’t matter if you shared blood. She was not your family, Cerise.”

“But my life ended that day! It utterly destroyed me! Sasha took everything from me.”

“That’s not true!” I roared. “You know that’s not true. You are smarter than this, Cerise. Think about what Elvira was doing to you. What she would have kept doing if she were still alive. I know that day was hard on you and it changed your life forever, but hasn’t that been a good thing? Because of what Sasha did, you and I were able to meet. We fell in love. You became a stronger witch. You found a home here on the Isle with me. Doesn’t that count for something? Or would you prefer to be back living in that cottage with Elvira?”

I could have sworn the hot energy flowing around me cooled just a fraction. Encouraged by this, I went on, “I love you, Cerise. More than my life. More than my kingdom. Stay here with me. Prove that you’re stronger than the pain. You don’t have to forgive Sasha right this moment, but you do have to accept what happened. Accept what she did. You know in your heart that Elvira deserved to die. As justice for your father. Justice for Sasha. And justice for you.”

In my mind, Cerise inhaled a ragged breath, a tiny whimper escaping her. Sasha’s eyes were fully open now, and only a small spot of red remained in her irises.

“Stay with me,” I said again, brushing the fur out of Sasha’s face. “Stay with me, Cerise. I’m here.”

“I can feel Sasha in my mind again,” Tavik said. “I am speaking with her now.”

“Good,” I replied. “Keep her calm, if you can.”

I kept gently rubbing the wolf’s fur, murmuring soothing words over and over again. Gradually, the billowing wind died, and the gold light faded. A faint aura illuminated Sasha’s form, but the glow no longer took up the entire room. Sasha’s breathing was wet and strained, her belly pulsing with each inhale.

“It’s all right,” I whispered, now rubbing the fur along her back. “It’s all right.”

“Alaric,” Cerise said softly. “I’m afraid.”

“I’m afraid, too, my love. But we can face this together. Just stay with me.”

“I need you to hold me. Please let me touch you.”

My face crumpled, and I choked on a sob. I ducked my head to press my forehead to Sasha’s. “Sasha… Can you shift? Let Cerise out so you can start healing.”

Sasha let out a low grumble.

“She’s in too much pain,” Tavik translated for me.

“Please,” I urged her. “It will only take a moment. Just one push, and then you can rest.”

Sasha blinked sleepily at me but didn’t move.

“Cerise?” I asked. “You may need to help her. I know you’re still angry with her, but just speak to her. Try to coach her through it. Then I’ll hold you in my arms and never let you go again.”

Cerise made a noise somewhere between a cry and a groan. “I—I will try.”

My mind fell silent, and Sasha’s eyes closed. I envisioned the two speaking with one another, and I bit down on the inside of my cheek, my anxiety mounting.

Please, I thought desperately. Please get through this. Don’t fight. Don’t push each other away. Just get through this.

Sasha’s form started to ripple. I quickly scooted away as the shift took over. Within moments, Cerise lay before me, naked and trembling, her curly hair damp with sweat.

“Cerise!” I swept her into my arms, clutching her tightly. She clung to my tunic and wept, shoulders shaking. “I’ve got you, my love. I’ve got you.” I smoothed the hair out of her face, relief crashing through me so violently it felt like my chest was caving in two. Oh gods, I’d been about to lose her forever. My breath shuddered, and a tear trickled down my face.

But she was here. She was alive.

A moment later, the last glimmer of gold light faded, leaving us in the darkened room. And I thanked every god I could think of that Cerise and Sasha had evaded a rupture.

If they hadn’t, I knew in my heart it would have killed me and Tavik, too.

Forty-Four