“Shut up, Xera.”
That only gets a laugh out of her, but I can’t find any humor in what’s about to happen.
“Let me go, Kai.” My arms do as she commands. Her hands moving up to cradle my face. “Maybe I can get some answers.”
“No.” I don’t give a fuck how she feels, this is stupid and she shouldn’t be charging off without even a thought to it. “He can wait, think about it, what if he doesn’t let you go?!”
She shakes her head. “He can’t keep what isn’t his.”
“You’re so fucking hard-headed!”
“I know.” She rises onto her tiptoes, pressing her lips against mine. Her arms wrap around my neck as the kiss deepens, and I fight to embrace her, but it’s no use—she isn’t allowing me to do so.
When she pulls back, she doesn’t go far. Her breath fans against my lips as she whispers, “It’s what you fell in love with. Take care of Syd, I’ll be back.” She pauses, taking a step back from me. “You can move once I’ve transversed through the gates.”
“Damn it!” I shout. “I’m going to punish the fuck out of you when you get back!”
Her head falls to the side, her long hair draping over her shoulder. “Promise?” she asks with a bright, pearly smile.
“Fuck! Xera!”
She walks past me, stepping out of view.
No… No, no, no!
I’m left standing here, arms bolted to my sides and helpless to keep the one person I need with me.
Chapter 41
Xeraphine
“Gratias tibi ago.”
Blinking away the tears and letting them stain my cheeks in a line leading straight to my self-pity, I brisk through the trees toward Alaric. Hearing Kairhyse screaming for me is destroying my Amoro, even if I’m washed over with gratitude.
“Gratias tibi ago.”My own voice flutters around in my head, but in a language that I don’t recognize.“Nostram.”I’ve not had the chance to sit and talk with my Demon like Kayn had suggested, but now I think I’ll make that a priority if I get back.
When I get back…
“Utere me.”
I’ll also apparently need to learn whatever this language is. I have absolutely no clue what it’s saying.
Seeing white hair in the darkness of the forest, I slow my pace. I’ve drowned out Kai’s voice—unwilling to continue my own suffering. I’ve got to settle this with Belial, because I can’t have him coming to this world and trying to take what ismine.
Alaric’s shoulders slump as his head tilts toward the sky, a blanket of stars above us. I follow his gaze, and through the protective canopy of trees, I see the sky I know I won’t lay eyes on again until I return. A tight ache settles in my stomach with that realization.
Damn, I’m going to the Beyond.
Where the departed are dragged unrelentingly to their eternal damnation. I’d pleaded to my creator on so many occasions to take me away and save me from this world, but now I find myself less eager for such a fate.
I’m confident I’ll come back, but it doesn’t make the feeling any lesspoignant.
A bright light engulfs the Fallen, pulling my gaze down to him. He holds his hand outstretched before him, and as I step closer, I watch in awe as a wrought-iron gate begins to materialize between the oak trees. The scent of charcoal and burning metal fills the air, and as the left gate creaks open, the deep, grating sound of rusted hinges echoes around us.
I take a deep breath, not waiting for him to move. I don’t look back toward Kai and Sydni, toward the home I’ve just left. It’s more than just a place—it’s what I’ve been without for so many years.
No. It’s what I’ve been missing my entire life, and now I’m determined to hold onto it. For so long, revenge was the thing that fueled me, but now… it’s about protecting what I’ve put in harm’s way.
