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Katarina’s gaze narrowed. A moment later, she said tightly, “I’m sorry.”

I only stared at her, too tired and in too much pain to ask what the apology was for.

Another moment, and she answered my question.

“I’m sorry because there are times I want to kill you just as badly.” She tightened her grip on my hand. “I want to kill you because I can see that you love him, more than I have ever loved Alexandru.”

Inside of me, the demon started to stir, its unease communicating itself to me.

Katarina’s voice remained steady as she continued, “I want to kill you because with you alive, he will never be mine—-”

The demon screeched with pain, and I realized that with every word of apology uttered, my hatred and guilt lessened, and with it the demon’s hold on my soul weakened.

“I want to kill you—-”

The demon wanted to flee, but it was unable to. Forgiveness replaced guilt and understanding replaced hatred, and my soul turned into the demon’s cage.

“Because he chose you. And so even if you were to leave him, a part of you will always linger. I want to kill you because no one can ever compare to the way you’ve surrendered yourself to him.”

The demon went wild and it lashed out, doing everything it could to get free. I could feel my eyes burning as if they wanted to pop out of their sockets. A buzzing filled my ears and my tongue started to swell.

“Lady Zari...” She was smiling at me, but her eyes were glassy with tears as she saw me bleeding all over. “I owe you a c-couple of apologies.”

I concentrated on her words, knowing I had to bear the pain because it was the only way for us to kill the demon for good.

Katarina started to speak. “I’m sorry I think you’re a pain in the ass – Alexandru has enough enemies as it is, but with you around he’ll have the world out for him, especially once people find out you’re a soul seer.”

“I’m sorry I think you’re so small, it should make Alexandru feel like he’s making love to a kid. I’m sorry I think you’ve got the body of a boy, it should make Alexandru feel like he’s gay when he’s kissing you.”

I coughed out a bloody laugh.

It was the demon’s death knell, and as I felt it thrashing desperately in its attempt to escape, I heard Alexandru’s voice in my mind.We’ve found the demon.

The talons in my soul disappeared.

The demon was dead.

I collapsed to the ground.

“Lady Zari?” Katarina cried out.

“I’m...okay.” It was still hard to speak, and my words came out as a croak. “Alexandru found the demon. It’s dead now.” I opened my eyes. We looked at each other, and suddenly we laughed. Even as tears formed in our eyes, we kept laughing.

“Do you need help?” Katarina asked as she came to her feet. At my nod, she offered her hand.

I took it.

Nooooooo—-

“Lady Zari?”

But it was too late.

Around me, the world had turned into orange – everything was completely orange—-

This isn’t real,I told myself feverishly, but then the fire grazed my skin, and I screamed at the pain of it.

I closed and opened my eyes. The world was still orange, and I was still guilty. I closed and opened my eyes. The world was stillorange, I was still guilty, but I was not alone. She was there in front of me and she was burning alive.