Page 209 of Famine

I can tell it takes a lot for her to say that. Her will to live has always been a dominant force.

I take a deep breath.

If I take what Thanatos offers, she would survive. But if I drove my steed across the world and made Ana watch death after death … well, that’s not without its own consequences.

She might live, but she might also come to hate me. I would make her into something terrible. I’m not sure either of us could survive that.

And even if—by some miracle—I didn’t lose Ana’s love, eventually the worldwouldstill end—maybe in one year, maybe in ten, maybe in fifty—and Death would kill her then, before her time was up. He would kill all his brothers’ wives. Death would finish the task that the rest of us turned our backs on and take our women at the end of it. They might be the last humans to go, but they would still go.

“Remember what you told me,” Ana says, her voice wavering, forcing me to turn my attention back to her. “Forgive. That’s what you’re meant to do. Even if—” She chokes on her next word, and has to restart again. “Even if it kills me.”

She would sacrifice herself. She broke me once, and she’s breaking me all over again.

But if we break, we break together.

My attention moves to Death. “I don’t want either of your offers.”

My brother holds my gaze for a long moment. “So be it,” he finally says.

I feel a shift in the air. Then, under Thanatos’s touch, Ana’s eyes roll back in her head. Her body sways, then collapses on the ground.

Dead.

Chapter 54

Famine

“Ana!” My voice sounds so far away.

I feel like the earth is disintegrating around me, that I am in free fall.

Can’t breathe.

Can’t think.

In an instant I close the distance between me and Ana. I fall to her side, my arms slipping under her torso. I cradle her in my arms.

There’s no pulse, no sense of life left in her.

“What have you done?” I say to my brother, my gaze pinned on Ana’s face.

I choke on my breath, unable to process—to accept—what I’m seeing.

“Ana,” I say, shaking her like an idiot. I cup her cheek. “Ana.” A tear slips out, hitting her chin.

I press my lips to hers, trying to breathe life back into her. Nothing within her stirs. I could make her body grow, but there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s simply that the soul residing in it is nowgone.

I am being unmade.

Distantly, I’m aware of the gusting winds and the shaking earth. I’m aware that trees are snapping and plants are dying and it’s my doing.

My brother took her, just as he promised. No discussion, no negotiations, no interest in hearing the rest of what I was going to say.

“What have you done?” I repeat.

“You’ve seen death often enough, Famine. I assumed you understood.”

“Bring her back.” I’m beginning to shake. A low, moaning noise tears itself from my throat. “You gave all of my brothers a fair trade. That’s all I want.”