Page 24

KYRIE

T he Sword practically dragged Dario out of the room with him over two hours ago, and neither one of them has returned.

“We should get you ready,” Lara says. “Do you have any idea what the ceremony entails tonight?”

“Fuck,” I say, grimacing. I drain the mead that’s left in my stein.

I barely taste it.

Turns out my new immortal body basically burns off alcohol immediately, which means I can’t even go to this celebration tipsy, much less drunk.

What a shame.

“I don’t think that’s part of the ceremony,” Lara says slyly.

Morrow huffs a laugh, and I glare at both of them.

“Easy for you two to make jokes. No one is forcing you to pair up.”

“He cares about you, Kyrie.” Lara’s voice is firm, but laced with empathy all the same. Her slim fingers wrap around mine, and it makes my chest hurt.

“I thought you knew about… everything.” I gesture wildly. It’s hard to swallow, hard to breathe. “I was so angry with you. I thought you sent me to my death.”

“I don’t know everything, Kyrie. Not even close. And Kyrie, I know you’re struggling, my friend.” She tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, patting my cheek gently. “I can see it, we all can, but you’re not dead. You’re alive. You would be dead forever if he hadn’t done what he did.”

“I know,” I choke out, because gods damn it, I do know. “I fucking know.”

“But it doesn’t make it easier.” Morrow tilts his head. “He hates himself for what he did to you.”

That brings me up short. “He told you that?”

Why the fuck would he tell Morrow that and not me? Something ugly rears its head inside me, and I glare at the knight.

Jealousy. That’s what that feeling is.

I’m jealous that the Sword told Morrow that and not me.

Which is stupid and low of me.

I sigh, and the emotion falters, then fades back into a heavy sadness I’m sick and tired of.

“He didn’t have to. Kyrie, we all saw how obsessed he was with you from the first moment. I can’t tell you what to do—” Morrow glances at Lara for support. “But what would you have done if your positions were switched?”

It’s an impossible question, and my self-pity switches to anger in the blink of an eye.

“I would have tried to tell him what had to happen.”

“You know that wasn’t a possibility,” Lara says softly. “You told me as much yourself.”

Morrow takes her hand in his, kissing her knuckles.

My eyes widen as she blushes, and a bittersweet pang goes through me.

She leans her head on his shoulder, then fastens her gaze on me with a smile. “Come on, Kyrie, let’s at least get you ready so we can make the most of this night.”

She bites her lip, glancing between me and Morrow, leaving the rest unspoken.

Make the most of this night, because none of us knows for certain how many we have left.