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Kai snorted. “Andyouknow me?”
Clutching the sword in my grasp, I nodded. “I do. And you know me too; you just don’t remember it.”
He thrust the dagger at me and I combatted it, the piercing sound of our blades vibrating in my ears. Kai grinned wide. “Very good, Princess. I see you know how to use a sword.”
“I know how to use many things,” I countered. “I also know a lot about you.”
Gaze narrowed, he continued to circle me. “Like what?”
“Like your mother,” I murmured. “Her name is Linette. She’s a Winter fae, just like you are. And I know you have a sister named Piper. You miss her.”
Kai snarled and shook his head. “They don’t mean shit to me.”
“Yes, they do,” I challenged, “just like I know I mean something to you, too.”
A flash of recognition sparked in his eyes and brought me hope. I had to keep going.
“There was a time when you loved me, and I loved you. I still do.” Tears filled my eyes, and I dropped my brother’s sword. I took a step toward him, and he sucked in a breath, his gaze wild. “I love you, Kai. Please say you haven’t forgotten me completely.”
I tried to reach out to him, but he grabbed my arm and slammed me against the wall, my dagger falling from his hands to the floor. His breath came out in rapid pants as he gripped my neck. He wanted to squeeze, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes.
“We have a secret cabin in Wyoming,” I continued. “We made love every day. It was some of the best moments of my life. Our love is forbidden, we’re enemies, but I would’ve given up everything to be with you. I still would.” I reached out and touched his face. “Your father’s evil is nothing compared to the good inside you. You have a part of me in you. Find it.” I brought my other hand up to his face. “Find it for me.”
Kai closed his eyes and shook his head, a harsh growl escaping his chest. He let me go and clutched at his heart, dropping to his knees in front of me. Across the room, my brother and Iston got their feet along with the rest of our warriors.
None of the dark fae moved. Their bodies were contorted at disturbing angles, all of them dead. The stones around their necks were as black as night, with no red glow to be seen. Kai had killed them with his blast of energy. There had to have been some good in him to spare my people.
Beck and Iston raced over, but I held up a hand and shook my head. After wiping my tears away, I knelt next to Kai. My dagger was on the floor beside us, but I didn’t want to reach for it. I hoped I wouldn’t need it.
“Kai,” I whispered.
He lifted his head, and I saw recognition on his face for the first time. “Ella?”
Clutching him tightly, I kissed him. “Yes, it’s me. You’re back.”
With sheer terror on his face, he pushed me away and got to his feet. “No, I’m not. I can feel the urge to kill you coming back.” He grabbed my arms and hauled me up. “You have to kill me, Ella. Now!”
“What? No!” I cried.
His gaze landed on my dagger and he lunged for it, but I beat him to it, only he was much stronger than me. We rolled across the floor, and I straddled him, grabbing the dagger before he thrust it into his heart.
“Stop!” I shouted, my arms shaking with sheer determination. The tip was so close to piercing his skin.
“Ella, you have to,” he said, wincing as if he was in pain. “It hurts so much to fight it. All I want to do is turn the blade around on you. It has to be this way.” A tear slid down the side of his face. “Hurry before it’s too late.”
Lips trembling, I shook my head. “I can’t. I don’t want to lose you.”
He clutched the dagger tighter. “You already have. This is how it’s supposed to end. You said it yourself, whatever choice I make will destroy me. Well, I’m making a choice now. I’m choosingyou. At least this way, you won’t hate me. Your family will be safe from the Shadow fae.” He growled again, his body seizing beneath me. “Ella, please! I’m trying to do the right thing. You have to end this now!”
“Ella, listen to him!” Beck shouted. “He’s too strong. He’ll kill us all.”
The agony that pierced my soul was the worst feeling I’d ever experienced. How could I kill the man I loved? It was impossible.
Kai’s grip tightened on my dagger and it pricked his skin, blood beading around the wound.
“No, no, no, no, no,” I pleaded, trying to pull the dagger away. Then, everything around us disappeared; it was just him and me.
Another tear escaped down Kai’s face, and he looked right into my eyes. “I love you, Ella.”
