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Iwailedinagonyas I crumpled into a ball on the floor, my hands clasped around Olivia's chest. I willed her heart to beat.
Her skin had grayed, reflecting the sorrow that hungin the air. Tears streamed down my face, trickling onto hers. I grabbed her heart, pushing it back into her chest as if it would somehow make her whole again.
She was dead.
I shook her, desperate for some sign of life, and then I looked up at the sky and howled. My wife was gone.
Anguish ignited within me, consuming my every thought. Grinding my teeth together, I dug my nails into the skin on my wrist. I shoved my wrist against her lips, letting it pour into her mouth in an attempt to bring her back from the brink of death. I bared my fangs and sunk them deep into Olivia's neck. A steady stream of venom coursed into her bloodstream. I pulled back, then held her body against mine, my tears streaming onto her skin as I screamed for the gods to spare her. I screamed again, begging for divine intervention. I clung to her frail frame, my desperation at its peak as I tried to fill the void of death's cruel embrace. Yet, no matter how hard I pleaded, nothing could bring her back.
The seconds ticked by, screams sounding around me as the aniccipere caught alight, flames engulfing them as the world trembled.
She'd done it—destroyed the underworld, but it wasn't worth it. Not with her gone. The aniccipere writhed in agony, their shrieks ringing throughout the city. A fire blazed, hissing as it consumed them, until all that remained were charred bodies—a fitting end for the creatures which had brought such immense suffering upon the world.
Salenia stood in the center of the battlefield, surrounded by the dead. Blood veined through the fabric of her dress as she dropped to her knees. Blood spilled from her lips, then dripped from her eyes as she grasped at her chest. Elizabeth and Niall watched from nearby, their fingers entwined as Salenia let out gurgled screams, choking on blood.
Her body crumpled, and she fell forward, dust spiraling around her as her body twitched, then stilled.
The cheers from our allies filled my ears—but all I could feel was the emptiness inside me as I stared at Olivia's lifeless body.
My heart felt like it was about to shatter with unbearable sadness.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead one last time before standing up slowly, the weight of grief pressing down on me like an invisible force. There were no more words to say, just the silent tears streaming down my face.
Zach and Erianna stepped forward, their faces pale and filled with sorrow. Their arms pulled me into a three-way hug, and I wept onto their shoulders, my body quivering with every sob.
Erianna pulled away tenderly, then cupped Olivia’s delicate face. She softly closed Olivia’s eyes with her fingers, then planted a kiss on her forehead.
The hours seemed to move in slow motion as the night crept by us until the first hints of morning sun peeked through the gray clouds above. A growl erupted from my throat as a stream of tears blurred my vision. I stood, then kicked the scattered swords with every ounce of energy I had, releasing all the rage as I refused to accept she was gone. My chest heaved as I screamed again, only to be met with a deafening silence.
This couldn’t be real. It had to be a nightmare, and I would wake up soon.
My fists pounded against the dirt beneath me as my cries echoed. That was when I felt it—a faint sensation, like the whisper of a breeze in the soulmate bond. I looked up, my eyes widening as I stared at the stretch of unblemished skin covering the hole that was in Olivia's chest.
I leaned in to see if she was still alive.
Her chest rose, the sound of her breath charging hope through me. I splayed my fingers over her heart, sighing relief when the unmistakable beat under my fingertips As her eyes slowly opened, I cried again, never shedding so many tears in my life.
She slowly sat up, and I helped her as she coughed, spluttering into her hands. Her gaze moved to where the mark used to be from the blood tie, now just smooth, unmarked skin.
She brought her fingers to her lips, then ran the tip of them along her gums until I spotted two sharp fangs.
I blinked several times in disbelief. It fucking worked.
Our eyes met, and she threw herself towards me, her warmth flooding my soul as I wrapped my arms around her. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as I held her tight. I cradled her head against my chest, closing my eyes.
She was alive. That was all that mattered. She looked around the battlefield, spotting Salenia's remains slumped over. “She's dead.” Then she looked back at me. “I'm so sorry.”
I shook my head. “It's okay, baby girl.” I held her tighter. “It's over now. It's okay.”
She nodded against my shoulder, and Zach, Anna, and Erianna crouched next to us. Finally, Erianna held us both, then Zach and Anna wrapped their arms around us, too.
We'd made it.
EPILOGUE
Olivia
One month later
