I don’t think, don’t give myself a chance to second-guess my decision.
I bring the dagger down into Aphrodite’s heart.
For a moment, nothing happens. We simply stand there, her eyes slightly narrowed and her lips parted. But then the ground beneath us begins to shake and a wild wind whips through the apartment. Furniture goes flying, and even Athena is knocked off her feet, slamming into the wall with an audible thump.
Spirit after spirit leaves the dagger in glittering silver orbs that fill the air like a million shooting stars.
Free. They’re free.
“No!” Aphrodite screams, twisting, blood foaming in her mouth.
Cracks materialize on her beautiful face like stone that has been dropped on concrete one too many times.
“The only thing capable of killing you is the same power you stole,” I whisper, my hands shaking from exertion. But I force myself to hold on, force myself to stare into her wide, terrified eyes. “Goodbye, Aphrodite. I hope you enjoy an eternity in Tartarus with Ares.”
My legs tremble and then give out. I drop to my knees, tears spilling down my cheeks.
“Someone stop her!” Athena yells. “This is killing her.”
But I can’t stop. I won’t. Not until all of the souls are free and Aphrodite is gone from this earth for good.
One final soul…
“Thea, baby, please. Stop,” Everett begs.
“Thea!” Krystian cries out.
Someone else is crying beside me.
Rafe.
I’m not sure he has ever cried before in his life.
“Sweetheart, stop. It’s over. Please,” Zaid pleads.
I can feel myself fading, dark splotches erupting across my vision.
And then Aphrodite shatters into a thousand pieces like a boulder that just exploded.
I fall, only to immediately be captured by strong arms.
Four faces surround me, peering down at me as if I’m their entire world.
I’m sorry,I want to say.
Please forgive me.
But I don’t have time for all of that. So instead, I say the only thing I can think of.
“I love you.”
And then I die.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
THEA
Death is painful.
