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Carrying the brunt of his weight slowed them down. The ground rumbled beneath their feet. The black muck andprotruding roots slowed them even more. Her heart slammed in her chest, booming in her ears.They’re going to catch us,she thought. “Faster, Hel.”

“I’m trying, love.”

She glanced back and clenched her teeth. Red eyes were all around and gaining. “They’re almost to us. I’ll have to fight them off.” But she spotted light from the door through the forest of dark trees ahead.

“No, we’re almost there. Keep going,” Hel said, and seemed to regain some strength just seeing it.

The buzzing was above them now. She looked up, the bats dove like arrows, straight for them. “Shit.” The door was only a few feet in front away. “We can’t let them out.”

“Fuck that, if they get out, they get out.” He took his arm from around her, wrapped his hand around the door handle and twisted.

She was right behind him, ready to push through the door—pain, searing, shocking pain through her center. A scream ripped from her throat. Hard metal stuck out from the center of her torso.No no no no no no.

“I hope you die and forget him again.” Varlett’s cold voice sent a chill down her back.

The sword was jerked free, and Valeen stumbled against the doorframe. Blood poured down her torso, warm and wet.No, she isn’t going to get away with that.With a scream of rage, Valeen whirled and slashed her blade across Varlett’s face, slicing open a wound across her eyes. From temple to temple a gaping gash opened up and streaks of blood ran down her face. Varlett reared back, grabbing her wound as she started screaming, screaming so loud it rang in Valeen’s ears. “She took my eyes! I can’t see! I can’t see!”

“And you never will again.” The world around her seemed to sway and the blood pouring down her body was colder now. Herfeet slipped from beneath her and she fell back into Hel’s arms. He was saying something, but she couldn’t get words out of it. It was like she was under the surface of water where everything was muted.

Light burst across her vision, so bright she couldn’t see. The heaviness of the underrealm vanished. Things came into focus. Sunlight filtered through the branches of the trees. The stone circle was close enough she could touch it. In the bright azure sky, a white puffy cloud shaped like a rabbit floated by. It was quiet. So quiet it was peaceful.

Was someone calling her name?

He sounded far away…

Hands gripped her face, and he was suddenly above her, as welcome as the sunrise. “Look at me, love.” His voice was clear now. He was terrified and that confused her. Hel wasn’t afraid of anything. “I’m so sorry. It should have been me. Hold on, alright? Hold on.”

Everything seemed to rush in at once. The agonizing pain was fire consuming her flesh. The loss of blood made her cold body shake. The last words Varlett said... Nausea rose up in her throat. “Don’t let me forget you,” she cried, reaching for her bloody stomach. “I don’t want to leave you, please. I can’t leave you again.”

Hel pushed her hands away from the wound. “I won’t let you die. You’re not going to die,” he said it like a command.

She reached up and touched his beautiful face, ran her fingertips over the scar on his brow, memorizing it. How could she ever forget someone she loved so much? It was cruel, after everything they’d been through. After how hard they fought, Varlett was going to be the one to tear them apart again.

The tremors intensified. “Hel, I want you to know, I always loved you. Even after?—”

“Stop it. You’re not going to die.” He sounded agitated.

“I never stopped loving you. I will always love you.”

He grabbed her face in both hands and pressed his forehead to hers. “My magic is coming back. You’re going to be fine. You have to hold on. Youwillhold on. I forbid you to let go.”

Her mouth started to fill with blood. “Alright,” she whispered and felt warm liquid trickle out of the corner of her mouth. The sun warmed her face, and she thought of Katana. Katana was here. She couldn’t leave her again.

Thick black boots, then long dark hair came into view. Thane stood over her and dropped to his knee, taking one of her hands. “Val, hold on. You’ll be alright.”

The pain was searing, and her body shook from it. She gripped him so hard it was a wonder his bones didn’t snap. “It hurts, Thane.”

“Why aren’t you healing her?” he snapped.

“I’m trying,” Hel hissed.

In through the nose, out through the mouth,Hel chanted in her mind.Breathe, love. I’m here with you. You’re going to be fine.Warmth trickled through her veins, chasing the iciness away. Pieces of black hair stuck to Hel’s forehead, his brows were puckered, and his mouth pinched in concentration, and even when he was furious and scared, he was lovely.

How could someone be so beautiful it hurt?

The edges of her vision started to fade.No, no, I can’t forget him,she thought.Hel is your husband, your mate. Hel is your husband, your mate… she chanted it over and over until everything went black.

Chapter 41