“She would be just as strong as her brothers,” I replied, my voice quieter now.
Elizabeth’s fingers traced slow, thoughtful patterns on my chest.“What would you name her?”
I exhaled, the name forming on my lips like a prayer.“Reyna,” I whispered.
A single tear slipped down my cheek.
Because I knew I would never have her.
I would never have any of them.
The fantasy burned through me, leaving only ashes.Duty would always come first.Lazarus had forged me into something that did not belong to this world—into a future of love and family.
But then Elizabeth’s fingers intertwined with mine, her touch impossibly soft, like the petals of a rose.She leaned closer, her breath mingling with mine—a sweet blend of lavender and vanilla.The world around us faded to insignificance as her lips met mine, a gentle caress that spoke of longing and tenderness—a whispered promise, a silent vow.
At that moment, time stood still.None of the weight of war, bloodshed, or duty mattered.All I felt was her.The warmth of her love wrapped around me like a comforting embrace from the heavens.
When we finally pulled apart, her gaze scorched into mine with unwavering conviction.
“Amir, I want to help you take down my father’s society—and others like it.”Her voice was firm, unwavering.“We can work together.I’ll perfect the Noctyss poison and use it at the masquerade.Together, we can be free from my father and Lord Winston.We’ll be partners in destroying these oppressive societies.”
I stared at her, my heart swelling with something dangerous—something I dared not name.This woman was delicate in appearance yet carried a strength rivaling any warrior I had ever known.
“No,” I whispered, the word scraping against my throat, aching in my chest.“It’s too dangerous, Elizabeth.Do you know the forces you’re dealing with?”
Her chin lifted defiantly.“I know some.”
I let out a breath, cold and tight in my chest.
“Salvatore,” I said, the name alone sending ice through my veins.“He will stop at nothing to destroy you.He’s powerful beyond comprehension.You need to forget about the flower.Forget about the poison.If he or Mathias discovers you have it...”
I swallowed hard, gripping her hands as if I could physically hold her back from the edge she was so willing to walk.
“They will destroy you.”
“But Mathias is our friend,” she said, tears spilling down her cheeks, raw with lamentation.
I exhaled harshly.“He’s not a friend, Elizabeth.He is crueler than your father.And Salvatore… Salvatore is powerful beyond compare.”
Reaching out, I brushed away a tear with the pad of my thumb.“He’s formidable.I don’t want you to destroy lives only to be destroyed in the process.”My voice was firm—but inside, I was anything but.The thought of losing her after finding something so unexpectedly tender in this bleak existence was unbearable.
Elizabeth’s eyes blazed, her fire undimmed by the weight of my words.“I want to be by your side and fight your battles with you.”Her fists clenched the crumpled sheets beneath us, her voice a raw mix of anger and desperation.
I gritted my teeth, suppressing a growl of frustration.Every word from her lips was like a dagger, stabbing into my already burdened mind.How could I let her step into my hell, into the world of shadows where innocence was a weakness and mercy was a liability?
But she refused to back down.
“You keep shutting me out,” she accused, her voice trembling, thick with emotion.“But I won’t give up on you.You’re not a murderer.You have a kind heart.”
I turned my face away, jaw tight.
She reached for me again, her touch searing through my defenses.“If I can’t concoct the poison, let me help you find the missing Blade of Shadows.Let me help you stop this madness.”
Desperation seeped into every syllable, her words laced with something dangerous—hope.
And as much as I wanted to push her away, to keep her from the abyss that consumed me, her unyielding determination shook me to my core.
But I couldn’t let her into my darkness.
