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This couldn’t be happening.

Screams of agony poured forth out of my mouth as I rocked Annelise back and forth, my tears falling into her strawberry blonde hair. The rain had begun to dissipate, but as my anger escaped me… so did my magic. The sky darkened once more.

I’m coming.

It was Nikolai, sending me a message down the bond. He was coming as fast as he could, but it wouldn’t matter. There was nothing he could do that would bring them back.

Alastir crouched next to me, and despite the glare of warning I shot him, he did not glance away. “I knew of their plan, and for this, I am sorry. But do not let their sacrifice be in vain.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I gasped, gripping Annelise so tightly it would have left bruises behind.

If she had still been alive.

“This washerchoice. Her sacrifice for you. For Istmere. One life for the lives ofso many.” His voice wassoft as he spoke, as if he were speaking to a frightened child. I didn’t want to hear it.

“But it wasn’t just one life,” I cried, motioning towards Zion’s motionless body that Amiyah now kneeled beside.

Puck moved forwards, gently pressing Zion’s eyes closed and flipping him onto his back.

“No, no, no. This isn’t real.Isn’t real. We are afamily. We were finally together.” I shook my head back and forth furiously, denial settling deep in my bones.

“I can save her,” I sputtered out.

I lay her gently against the stone, kneeling beside her body, my hands poised over her chest. “Yes… I can save her.”

“Diana, no,” Tess shook her head, all-encompassing sadness filling her expression. Tears brimmed in her eyes and when she blinked, they spilled over, streaking down her cheeks.

Donika was finally dead… but so were Annelise and Zion. Alastir had said there was a price to the cure, but he couldn’t tell what that price might be. Wasthisthe price I would have to pay for the dark magic spell that saved Nikolai?

I wasn’t ready to pay it. Couldn’t stomach it.

I had just started getting to know Annelise. We had just begun mending our broken relationship. I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. Not ever.

She was mymother.

I let my magic spill through my fingertips towards her, and her chest rose towards the energy, lifting her off the ground.

“Diana, NO!” Tess darted forward, grasping me tightly around the shoulders. Puck joined her, pulling me away from Annelise’s limp form.

“Let go of me! Let me go!” My cries were swallowed by the storm raging overhead, lightning streaking the sky and hitting the terrace, sending stones flying into the air.

Right as I was about to combust, about to let the magic inside of me detonate, a tug from the bond caught my attention. Not warmth or even words like he had sent before, but a pull that was undeniable. Nik wastakingmy grief. My anguish.

Sharing the burden of this turmoil with me.

Another choked sob escaped me as he appeared in the doorway of the terrace, cheeks red, his chest rising and falling as he panted for breath. He ran all the way here.

I ran to him, falling into his arms as he lifted me against him. I pressed myself against him so forcefully the air left my lungs, our bodies flush against one another. I cried into him, gripping him so tightly against me I thought my fingers would have to be pried apart. I could feel the hot blood of his wound between us, knowing we needed to get him to a healer. But the bond between us told me he was ok… for now. I tore against his jacket, wanting to erase any molecule of distance between us.

I had never felt so broken.

The others stood quietly as the anger and sadness escaped me. I couldn’t be here anymore, couldn’t see her limp body next to Zion’s. I had lost so many people in the fight for this realm… and it was ahefty price to pay.

I released Nik, my gaze capturing his for only a moment before I scooped my blades off the stones. I secured Stormslayer to my thigh and carried Nik’s sword behind me.

I needed to be alone.

They let me walk off, staying behind to take care of the bodies. A pulse of understanding shot through the bond. That Nikolai recognized I needed to grieve and he would be waiting for me on the other side of this. I wandered through the castle, the sword dragging and sparking against the stone as I let it trail behind me. I didn’t have the energy to lift it up.