Page 52 of Antiletum

“You knew,” Delaney accuses. Fairly, might I add. “You knew what I was—before our wedding.” Of course I knew she was a necromancer. The only other one in the world that’s been found. Always meant for me. “Your brother saw me, scented my necromancy, when I was fifteen. You were after me all along.”

“Yes,” I say simply.

Desire to say more, to shed light on everything that has led us here is overwhelming. To make her understand. But my words are jumbled in a glass jar, being shaken in my mind. Unattainable.

IneedDelaney to be calm right now. To stay here and let me explain. Not let her fear win. To move slowly so the instincts within me may avoid being triggered and we can speak rationally. It’s bad enough that I’m already following her slow retreat. Drawn like a magnet.

I groan inwardly at the shift in my wife’s heartbeat. In tune with what’s about to happen. Fear, the promise of the hunt, is rapidly blotting out everything else around me, my senses focusing on the sounds of Delaney’s movements, mapping out her escape plan before she’s even formed it.

“Don’t,” I warn, my head cocking involuntarily to the side. Our pupils blow wide, at the exact same time, for entirely different reasons.

Fuck.

“Don’t run.”

Words are barely past my grinding teeth before she’s running.

Even a brisk walk would be fine. I could ignore it, deny myself. But a full blown sprint in terror…

Formerly pristine teeth are probably broken from how tightly I’m clenching my jaw. Fingernails find and dig into a marble top table, trying to root myself.

Trembles climb down my arms.

I’m not going to chase her. I’m not going to chase her. I amnot—

I’m going to do it. Ihaveto.

Instincts are far too stout, too primal. Not when I could so easily make just a few short strides and have her in my clutches. Press her into me. Demand that she stay. That she listen.

An animal growl announces defeat to my internal battle, fighting my core. Impressive speed follows my wife, deciding she’s not allowed to get away. Not from me.

Not ever.

Fuck. This is far too exhilarating. Could have been a lot of fun, too, under different circumstances. Excitement sends a shot of shame through me. Delaney is currently terrified of me and scaring her is the last thing I want to do.

I would neverhurt her. I want to take care of her. To make her feelprotected.That intention is the only reason I murdered Rainah. My hands were completely tied.

But such is the life of a leader, having to make the hard decisions.

In a mouthwatering moment of victory, I’m behind Delaney, arms wrapped around her middle and pinning her small body against mine. I think I could fit her inside of myself. Tuck her away underneath my skin. Keep her close to me forever.

Swept from the floor, Delaney’s legs kick in the air. For a brief moment, she screeches. Caught. Angry. Fighting with all her might.

Nails slice into my arms, but I’m wholly undeterred. It’s fucking glorious. I think I might have moaned into her neck. Maybe she’ll bend forward and bite me. If anything, the way my precious wife thrashes in my arms encourages my need to hug her further. Nestle my nose lovingly into her neck. Suck in her scent a bit.

She truly is divine.

But then, Delaney goes limp, all of her fire giving out. There and gone in a single, roaring flare. Blazing too strong, hot, and fast, depleting all its fuel.

Thrill melts away, instantly doused by the sound of my wife’s crying. Panicked and all consuming. As if she’s just learned all over again that her sister is no more. The vibrations of it rattle my bones. Her reaction—this is the only thing I regret.

“I’ve got you,” I tell her over and over. Trying to make her understand that I’m here. For her. But she doesn’t seem to hear me.

It’s okay. I canmake itokay. I just have to tell her what happened. And what I have planned.

“Shh.” I comfort her, the way I wish I had been able to when Delaney learned of Rainah’s passing. Holding her desperately against my body. “I’m here. I have you.”

Delaney’s sweet smelling hair clings to my lips. I savor it. The warmth of her body snuggling into mine. Let it become a piece of myself so I may remember what she feels like when she’s not by my side.