Page 88 of Once the Skies Fade (Immortal Reveries #2)

Chapter 88

Matthias

G raham’s nervous pacing echoed off the walls as if the room had its own manic heartbeat. As much as I relished in his rising fear, my body seemed more focused on keeping me alive than letting me gloat—pulling my eyes closed and slowing my breaths. I just needed to hold on until Calla found me here.

Soon. She’d be here soon.

She was close.

That unforgettable roar had signaled her arrival. As if I didn’t already owe Asher for saving my life once, his bringing my mate here to save me again would leave me in his debt for the rest of my life––which hopefully wasn’t going to be nearly as short as I’d assumed mere moments ago.

The battle cry of the dragon had certainly breathed new life into my dimming hope, but now I discovered something else swirling in my chest—something not from myself, but through the bond: the excited buzz of energy that always managed to hit before a battle, like our minds knew exactly what we needed to drive us forward.

“I should kill you right now,” Graham seethed quietly, though his menacing words couldn’t quite hide his growing uncertainty.

Sliding my eyes open, I forced my words out on a strained breath. “Your funeral.”

“She’s going to kill me anyway,” he argued, shoving his blade into my face. “At least killing you would ensure she suffers even after she gets her revenge.”

“Perhaps. Or she might show mercy like she did to the Assembly,” I offered as my head lolled to the side again, my energy depleting quickly with the effort of speaking.

“After she slaughtered two of them, you mean,” he corrected me. I tried to shrug, but I couldn’t quite tell if my muscles cooperated or not.

“Kill me and you guarantee a nasty death for yourself.” My voice was barely more than a whisper now. “Or let me live and buy yourself time to beg for clemency.”

Growling, he spun away from me and resumed his pacing. Whether I’d convinced him one way or the other, I couldn’t tell, but I was still breathing for the time being, which was good enough for me…for now.