Page 136 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

“Yes.”

His brow creases. “Crimson, you know it only works one out of every ten times…”

“Iknow, Murad,” I snap, putting a bloody wrist to Paige’s mouth. Once again, my blood fills her lips, but it’s hard to tell if she ingests any of it.

Celine looks up at him. “What’s happening out there? Is Oana…?”

“She fled the hotel’s grounds,” Murad reports, although his eyes remained fixed on Paige’s unmoving face. “It looks like the rest of her allies have also fallen back, although we’re double-checking every front to make sure.”

I stand, taking Paige carefully in my arms. My earlier wounds have healed, with the help of Paige’s blood. My body may be strong and powerful, but this is the most vulnerable I’ve ever felt in my entire existence.

Murad and Celine follow me out of the stairwell and through the lobby. The vampires are recovering from the fight, finding loved ones and tallying the dead and deanimated. I pass through them like a ghost, heading for the courtyard outside.

The night is crisp and overcast, the stars hiding behind wispy, midnight blue clouds. Celine grabs several shovels and we find a quiet spot in the corner of the yard, under a large oak tree. I set Paige down carefully upon a bench.

Not speaking, the three of us each take a shovel and begin to dig.

Despite the somber atmosphere, I’m grateful to have them both by my side. It’s the first time I’ve had company while digging a grave.

Once it’s deep and wide enough, I take Paige’s body in my arms, holding her above the soft earth.

Her expression is so peaceful. I take it in, committing it to memory.

“Shewasmy undoing,” I say, to nobody in particular.

The moon shows her face, hanging in the sky like a promise. Like a prophecy.

I jump into the grave. Tenderly, I place her down onto the earth. Her hair fans out behind her. She looks like an angel.

My angel.

With one final glance up at the moon, I kneel down beside her.

“What are you doing?” Celine says.

I don’t reply. Instead, I lie down, cradling Paige’s head in the crookof my arm. I remember how she cuddled up against me in my coffin, and a soft smile cracks my lips.

“Crimson, come back up,” Murad shouts, concern in his deep voice. “We have to bury her, otherwise she won’t turn.”

“I know,” I answer, as a wonderful peacefulness descends upon my bones. “And you’ll have to bury me, too.”

Celine and Murad exchange a horrified look.

“You can’t ask us to do that,” Murad says.

“Yes, I can,” I reply, pushing Paige’s hair back behind her ear. “If she doesn’t come back up, I’ll stay down here with her.”

Murad shakes his head. “This ismadness…”

“Crimson, you won’t die,” Celine says, beseechingly. “Vampires can only be staked. You’ll stay down there, foreternity…”

“And this is where I want to be, for eternity,” I answer. “I’ll have her in my arms, forever.”

“I can’t do this,” Murad says. “Roslyn…”

“Murad,” I whisper, the wind carrying my voice to his ears. “I’ve existed long enough.Please, my friend…this is my last wish.”

Silence stretches out between us. Then I feel the soft kiss of earth upon my skin.