Page 107 of Crave Me

I could taste the lethal magic.

My medallion appeared in its faded form, the trickle of remaining vitality waving in the distance. Floating. Pulsating. Spasming.

Above a grave.

I clawed at the earth as I forced myself onto my knees, my world rocking back and forth with the movement.

The moon tried to bolster me, the stardust fluttering around my being in useless golden waves. It could no longer break through the inky darkness that had covered my being.

Ice prickled my arms, digging into my flesh and infiltrating my blood.

But I kept crawling, forcing myself to see beyond the pain, to reach my medallion.

Worst case, I can jump realms,I thought.But then… then I might not be able to come back.

And what about Vesperus?

I couldn’t leave him here. Not like this. Not knowing what it would do to him.

I don’t… I don’t want to leave him either.

He’s mine.

I’m his.

Our souls are forever bound.

So, no. Jumping realms wasn’t a worst-case scenario. It was an impossible one.

But maybe my medallion would give me the boost I needed to survive this, tobreakthis. It was part of me. A sentient creation that just might be able to breach this thick, ash-like web.

The stardust continued to build around me as it tried to penetrate the invisible magic suffocating my being. I couldn’t actually see it, but I knew it was black.

Weighted down by death.

I pushed, and crawled, and pushed some more, and finally reached my withering medallion, the magic having reformed into its intended form. Only it was charred and decaying, the life dying with my corporeal form.

Maybe even my soul.

I could feel the frigid kiss of the afterlife beckoning me forward, seducing me with thoughts of giving in.

So strong. So enticing. So… so…wrong.

I shoved the yearning away, my focus on the solid metal in my hand.My medallion. It quivered against my fingers, stirring tears in my eyes.

I’ve failed you,I thought, holding it close.But I’ll bring you back. I promise.

There was no other choice. I couldn’t use it to jump realms. Not like this. Not when I didn’t know if I could return.I can’t leave Vesperus. He’s my other half. My soul.

How has everything changed so quickly?I marveled, my gaze on the familiar token in my hand.You knew, didn’t you? You knew my heart existed in this realm, so you ensured I found him. And now…

Now I had to reward it by killing the flicker of energy it had left.

By absorbing it back into me.

To fight… to fight what, exactly? This spell?

Would my medallion even be enough?