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“I would,” Magnus said. “In fact?—”

There was a flash of movement as Magnus’ arm moved before pain exploded in Elias’ gut.

He felt his mouth open but couldn’t get a wisp of air. Agony exploded from his center, and his body tried to slump forward, to fall to his knees. But he couldn’t move. Not with the syphen’s magic holding him in place. It wouldn’t be until the moment he died that he could disobey any orders the holder of the syphen gave.

Gasping for air, blood poured out of his gut and pooled on the floor.

His body tried to heal the wound but couldn’t through the syphen’s magic. Instead, the essence in his body worked to replenish the blood in his veins and to heal the damage to his internal organs around where the blade was. In moments, his essence depleted until almost nothing was left.

His grip on reality slackened and his fangs emerged, puncturing his lower lip. A metallic tang filled his mouth.

Somewhere, he thought he heard screaming.

Arabella, he realized.

No,some distant part of him thought.Don’t cry for me.

He’d chosen this. And despite everything he’d endured, he’d give himself over to Magnus a thousand times over if it meant she was herself again—free to live her life and with her memories back once more.

“Breckett is in the Abyss.”

It was Arabella’s voice.

“He’s trapped there with the shadow fae,” she added.

There was a flash of movement before Elias’ vision went dark. He was either going to black out or the demon would soon come forth.

And he’d be no more.

Magnus laughed, the sound piercing the air. It echoed down the hallway, and it seemed like all other sounds ceased.

“I answered your question. Now, take the syphen out.” It was Arabella again, her voice raising in pitch. “Let Elias feed on me before it’s too late.”

There was a sudden pressure at his center and then a squelching sound as the blade was pulled free from his gut.

He felt Magnus’ magic through the syphen as the sorcerer said, “For this moment only, you’re permitted to move, to look at her. Feed, my prodigal son, to your heart’s content.”

Through his darkening vision, he thought he saw the silhouette of his mate before him. Was this some dream? As he felt her arms loop under his and her lilac scent washed over him, he raised a hand and brushed loose strands of hair back from her face.

“You’re beautiful.” The words came out like a strangled sound, further garbled by his elongated canines. But they were two of the truest words he’d ever spoken.

As he spoke, his body started trembling again. But he was too weak to flinch away, to give in to the fear Magnus had instilled in him at the sight of her.

“You can write sonnets for me later,” Arabella said. “But right now, you need to feed.”

No, he didn’t want to feed. Not when it meant that the moment he finished, he’d have to leave. Magnus would force Elias to go with him when this little game of his was over. And even if some part of Elias was terrified that she’d suddenly rip out his heart, he also longed to remain in her presence—for as long as time would allow.

Broken as it was, his heart would forever be hers.

“Kiss me, Elias,” she said, her voice cracking. “Please.”

Please.

Once, he would have given her anything if she uttered that one word. He would have granted her any pleasure she’d wished if only she’d promise herself to him. Denying her anything had been difficult then. And he found himself unable to deny her even now.

Then he was kissing her.

Her lips were salty from sweat and dirt—from whatever travels she’d undergone in the Abyss. And he’d never tasted anything so perfect. Her lips were soft, divine. She was everything he’d wished for and more.