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My mind lingers on Caspian next.
Despite his coldness, there were rare moments of vulnerability he displayed, glimpses of someone who possessed kindness beneath his hardened exterior.
I remember the gestures he made in our little time spent not hunting amulets, finding May and Rose a loving foster family, sparing me from killing Dolly in cold blood.
Those are not typically the acts of a heartless villain.
No, those were the actions of my monster.
In this moment, I sadly long for more time with them, realizing that these three men — Darian, Caspian, and Val — have become an unexpected necessity in my life.
It’s a realization that catches me off guard.
I never anticipated my greatest regret would be not seeing them again.
I suppose life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it.
With a tight grip on my hair, she yanks me to my feet until the water reaches my waist.
I flex my limbs, trying to make any movements to free myself, but they remain frozen, as if paralyzed completely from my body’s commands.
Her eyes lock onto mine, determination on her face as she raises the dagger, and quickly drives it into my stomach.
A guttural shriek claws its way from my throat with raw intensity as the blade pierces my abdomen.
White-hot searing pain radiates from my stomach and my gaze drops as the lake around my body darkens with my blood.
She suddenly pushes away from me, quickly turning to face the shore, where a shouting and commotion erupts.
As chaos unfolds, the water surrounding me ripples and surges, gaining momentum with each passing moment.
The once calm lake that only moved with the wind now churns and swirls of its own accord, echoing the turmoil within me as the numb feeling in my limbs spreads through my body, making it increasingly difficult to stay upright.
This is it, this must be what dying feels like.
As my vision blurs I strain to make sense of the chaos unfolding around me.
The woman who had shattered the amulets is now nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by a colossal, shadowy serpent writhing in the grip of a massive, jet-black panther.
The snake’s scales shimmer with an otherworldly iridescence, while the panther emanates an aura of strength and primal power that sends a shiver through my chest.
I blink rapidly, desperately trying to regain focus as the serpent contorts, morphing before my eyes into the very woman who had attacked me, her black hair cascading around her face, and she smiles.
“It’s too late!” she screams, as the air crackles with energy, and the ground beneath us trembles violently as if the very foundation of the earth is being shattered.
The tremors beneath my feet make it even more difficult to stay standing, and if my swaying by itself is any indication, I won’t be upright much longer.
My vision flickers, and amidst the chaos, movement catches my eye as a man sprints through the churning water toward me.
His long black hair flows down to his shoulders, and his bright hazel eyes are filled with a mixture of desperation and fear as he fights against the chaotic lake.
My heart skips a beat as I recognize the familiar features are Val, running toward me in his human form.
Time seems to slow as I observe the raw power in his muscular frame, each stride bringing him closer. His full lips and chiseled jaw move as if he’s shouting, but the sound reaches me muffled, as though I’m submerged underwater.
My weakened legs finally give way and I fall forward, collapsing toward the water. In that moment my gaze meets the terror etched within Val’s eyes, and our connection transcends words.
That’s when the dark waters envelop my vision entirely.
