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I saw nothing.

Araki.

If I died here, he died, too.

Only one thought came into my chaotic, clouded mind. I had to get to Araki. So, he could remove the spell.

Mustering all my strength, I thought of nothing but his face. And using the rotten magic I’d taken from Opaline, I teleported myself.

Screams.

Cries.

Voices I knew and didn’t.

Then hands cupped my face.

My eyes were forced open.

The last thing I saw before the darkness of the poison consumed me completely was Araki’s face.

Truth and Kisses

Araki

My best healers, Anika, and Hubert were the only two I trusted to care for Reilyn. Nadine aided them to the best of her abilities, mostly watching over my assassin while the two elderly healers rested. Two days passed without any sign of improvement. I didn’t have the strength to leave my bed… well, Reilyn’s bed. I lay next to her as she slept, keeping our connection close. Somehow, I felt my closeness could help her battle the poison. On the third day, her fever broke. I found myself with enough strength to stand. Nadine encouraged me to talk with Klaus outside Reilyn’s bedroom door.

“We need to clean her body, and I’m sure Miss Reilyn wouldn’t want you to see her naked like this,” Nadine said as she put an arm around my shoulders.

“I—”

Nadine clucked her tongue, interrupting me. “Unconscious and sick? Do you think she would want it?”

I relented. Nadine helped me from the room where Klaus waited outside.

Klaus silently gestured to a wooden chair he’d put at the side of the door. I sank into it gratefully as Nadine closed the door behind us.

“Araki.”

I rubbed my eyes, fighting against the pain still flowing through me. “Yes?”

“I must speak freely. Even if you don’t like what you hear.”

I tensed and lowered my hands. A muscle twitched in my jaw, but I nodded for him to continue.

“The assassin is no longer of any value to us,” Klaus said, his tone and expression flat. “We can’t trust her. She lied to you and fled as soon as she could. She probably went to the dark priestess to ask how to break the spell between you.”

“She didn’t.”

“You can’t know that” Klaus argued.

“So what are you suggesting, Klaus? Do you want me to kill her?”

Klaus winced. “No. Regardless of what drove her that night… killing her would be a crime. I can see that now.”

The tension in my shoulders eased.

“But I still think keeping this Union spell between you is a mistake.”