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I breathed in deeply. “That’s what I needed to know.”
Neville let out a sharp, piercing cry that echoed off the stones. But if he was trying to stop me, then he was too late. I’d already pulled out the dagger we’d enchanted and driven it straight into Blake’s heart.
Chapter 20
BLAKE
...Scaled will to scaled vein. One furnace, one cry.”
I could feel my life’s blood pouring out. The pain came in waves, but at least I could still hear her voice.
“Let the weaker ember sigh …”
The words were vaguely familiar. Pendragon was repeating them, like a prayer she was afraid to stop saying.
“Let the weaker ember sigh, let the greater spirit fly. The elder burns and the younger fades away.”
I knew those words; I’d spoken them once before. That night I’d opened the door to my very soul and let Vorago inside.
Distantly, I felt Pendragon press her forehead against mine. She was still crying. Warm drops fell from her face onto mine. I could still see her—at least I’d been given that gift. I could look at her one last time. Gods, she looked wrecked. Beautiful and awful, furious and devastated. I knew it was my fault. I’d done that to her. I lifted my hand, a little surprised when it actually moved. It felt like it had been so long since I’d been in my own body. My fingers were cold, but I managed to brush my thumb clumsily across her cheekbones. “Pendragon … it’s all right. Don’t cry.”
She shook her head mutely, her eyes pleading.
I coughed out a weak laugh. “Really, it’s fine. I had it coming. Honestly, it’s a miracle you didn’t stab me years ago.”
The sound that tore out of her was like another stab to the heart. Half wail, half-heartbreaking laugh. “I’m sorry,” she choked. “I’m so, so fucking sorry.”
“Hey,” I said awkwardly. “It’s all right. I get it.” And I did. The truth had been sitting with me for a while. Now it seemed clearer than it had ever been. “I was never worth saving. And after what I did to the city? This was the price I needed to pay. I’m just glad you finally saw that, too.”
Her breath hitched sharply. My chest felt cold now. My hands tingled. My feet seemed suddenly very far away. So, this was it, then.
I forced myself to get the words out. I was almost out of time. “I’m grateful. You know that?” I coughed, my body spasming. But I forced myself on. “I’m grateful I found you that day. That I got to have … any of this. That I got to know you. To hold you.” The words tangled in my mouth, and I hesitated, but this wasn’t the time for blooddamned cowardice. “I’m so fucking grateful I got to love you, Pendragon. Even if it was only for a little while.”
She sobbed.
“Loving you,” I went on. I paused as another cough wracked my body. Blood spilled from my lips. I didn’t want to frighten her, but I couldn’t wipe it away. I tried to choke it down. “Loving you is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m glad you’ll survive. That you’ll make the world a better place. If my dying does that, then—”
“Shut the fuck up, Blake Drakharrow,” she whispered fiercely.
“Won’t even let a dying man have his last words,” I mumbled.
Then she kissed me. It was a good kiss. If I’d been able to move, it would have been even better. Still, a dying man takes what he can get. Her mouth pressed to mine, desperate and aching, I tried to kiss her back as best I could.
Finally she pulled back. Looked into my eyes. “This is probably going to hurt.”
I couldn’t speak. The blood continued flowing from my lips. I wanted to tell her whatever she was about to do next, I doubted it could hurt more than being stabbed in the fucking heart.
She looked over her shoulder. “Neville.”
I’d forgotten the fluffin was there. Vaguely, I watched as Nev climbed up onto my chest. I couldn’t feel the creature’s warmth—everything was going too cold for that now. But I tried to smile down at the little rascal.
Medra put one hand on the fluffin’s back, then the other on the hilt of the dagger buried in my chest. I watched as she closed her eyes.
A scream ripped out of me, and before I could even try to stop it from happening, two minds pierced mine.
Chapter 21
MEDRA
