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“You surprise me. That’s so very vicious.”
“It’s not viciousness,” I insist, determined to convince him of my—admittedly false—sincerity. “We didn’t get to say goodbye. I need to speak with her. I want to kiss her one more time. Tell her how much I love her. Surely, you can understand that. If it were you and Yugo…”
I know I’ve touched something inside Armand’s black heart when the lines of distaste on his face soften as he looks at the man he loves.
Surprisingly, Yugo takes my side, stating the positive. “We’ll get to have that execution. I do enjoy those so much.”
The tempting must be enough for Armand because he sighs heavily before relenting, “All right. Who am I to stand in the way of final farewells between lovers?”
Acting like it’s a huge inconvenience to dig the key out of his pocket, he grumbles as he hands it to Yugo, requesting that his husband carry out the act of removing my collar.
I keep my attention on Ro as Yugo makes his way behind me. His fingers slip into the necklace, and I hear the quiet click when the key turns. The collar falls away, and my power surges back. It takes a few seconds to recharge, but when it does, I start the healing process without delay.
Holding Ro close, I place my hand over her chest. I shut my eyes and implore the damage within.
I empty her lungs, nudging the blood back into her veins and toward her heart. I fuse her broken ribs together. I repair her spine. I reform her pelvis.
Concentrating hard, I simultaneously work on the snapped bone in her arm while patching the rips inside her abdominal cavity. I sew up the vital organs, smooth them over, and drain the excess fluid around them.
Last, I target the minor injuries she sustained in previous challenges so she’s good as new. The burn on her hand, the scrapes on her legs, and the shallow cut on her neck.
Then she’s perfect.
Any second, she’ll wake. She’s going to be so irate with me for doing this, but I don’t care.
Sucking in a loud gasp, Ro’s eyes snap open, and there’s immediate alertness because she thinks we’re still in the third challenge.
Flailing, she tries to sit up, but instead of letting her off my lap, I keep her there with one arm around her back and the other clamped over her legs so she can’t get away.
I want to hold her for as long as I can.
“Shhh,” I soothe her, slightly rocking us. “You’re all right. You’re okay, Sunny.”
“What’s happening?” She scans our drab surroundings before gawking at her own body. When she notes the lack of pain, happiness lights her face. “Did we win?”
I wish I could tell her we were victorious. I’d give anything to be able to say I somehow managed to beat Armand and save her at the same time.
With a lump of emotion clogging my throat, I rasp, “No.”
Wary, she asks, “Then how did we get here? What did you do?”
I let a few beats pass. “I surrendered.”
“What?” Fuming, her chest rises and falls with quick breaths. “Why? How could you? We promised we wouldn’t.”
“No,” I contradict. “I madeyoupromise not to forfeit for me, but I never said I wouldn’t do it for you.”
“Oh, that’s bullshit. Don’t play those fae word games with me.” Her adorable little finger comes out, and she sticks it in my face. “We had an understanding. We weren’t supposed to give up.”
“Yeah.” I get louder. “Which is why I’m wondering why you pushed me out of the way. What the fuck, Sunny?”
Now that she’s better, my anger over the situation is unleashed. I’m scowling so hard I can feel my facial scar stretching uncomfortably.
“I took your place, yes.” Ro is exasperated and completely unremorseful. “But think about it—if I’d been the one to survive, I would’ve remained a captive here, and Valora would be none the wiser about the meteors. Don’t you see? You’ll be able to save them now.”
“I don’t want to,” I state petulantly, refusing to acknowledge that she’s making sense. “It’s not worth it if I have to sacrifice you.”
“You don’t mean that,” Ro says, soft and sad. “It’s a romantic concept—forsaking the entire world for the person you love. But would you really choose to do it?”
