Page 105 of Till Death

“Breathe,” Paesha commanded, even as the magic thrummed. “Turn your head and let us look first.”

I nodded, following the instructions, though my heart could barely stand the seconds that passed after Paesha pried my hand open. They’d been silent. Too silent.

Look.

“No.”

“Dey?”

Look.

“No!” I shouted.

My heart leapt into my throat, suffocating me until my ears rang, hearing only that madness inside of me.

Look.

“Stop it!” I cried, yanking myself free of the women to crumble to the floor, gripping my head as I rocked back and forth.

“Deyanira Faber, stop this immediately.”

It wasn’t the firm voice of the Huntress, nor the soft tones of the blacksmith. It was Hollis. He stood in the doorway in a sharp-fitting red suit, face full of pity as he looked me over.

“You have to warn Orin. You have to tell him to run. Please.”

“It isn’t his name, Deyanira.”

My head whipped to Paesha. “I… What?”

“It’s not Orin.” She locked eyes with Hollis. “It’s Tolen Santus.”

Thea gasped, words shaking. “Are you sure?”

The old man cut a glance at me before looking over his shoulder and pulling the door shut behind him. “Well, that’s going to be a problem.”

I finally dared a peek at my palm, confirming the stranger’s name. “Every death is a problem.”

I swiped away my tears as I let the calmness wash over me. No matter the name, it was a burden I loathed, but how could I go my whole life with the repetitive fear of their deaths? Being alone, though it came with its own tribulations, made this part so much easier to bear. Maybe Orin was lying, and he was actually protecting himself.

“Because I’ve been hunting him for a while, and I cannot find him.”

I blinked slowly. “You’ve been hunting the Life Maiden longer, have you not?”

“This is different,” Thea interjected. “Tolen used to be part of the Syndicate. He’s our friend. My friend. Paesha knows him well.”

“The missing people? He’s one of them now?” I asked.

Thea helped me to my feet, eyes glued to my hand as she said, “What happens if you can’t?—”

Her words were halted by a gasp as indescribable pain raced over my palm, nearly taking me back to the floor. I clenched my teeth, ripping myself free of her grasp as white clouded the edges of my vision.

“What the—” Paesha snatched my hand back, looking down at it and then back to me. “Did you do something?”

I blinked past the tears. “No.”

“Holy gods,” Thea whispered. “The name changed.”

“What?” Jerking myself away again, I studied the burning edges of freshly seared skin.