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Shadows snake down my arms. “Over my dead body,” I growl.

The warning before entering this hellhole was that the cost of power is blood, and if this Crógemma can only be accessed with her blood, then perhaps it’s capable of more than Tiernan originally led us to believe.

Or what if he never actually wanted the gem, but merely to kill us all—including Maeva?

The Basilisk tilts its head, regarding me. “That can be arranged,” it hisses.

Maeva places a hand on my chest, shooting us both a withering look. “No!” Maeva scolds. “There shall be no killing today.”

“I’d make it quick, Rosey,” I bite out.

“I need that gem, Emyr. It’s important,” she retorts.

I scoff. “Important for what, exactly? You never told me about the deal you made with Tiernan. Perhaps now you’ll finally enlighten me. Otherwise, I won’t let you do this,” I snarl.

Maeva turns away from me, burying her face in her palms. “It’s not that easy,” she murmurs.

I spin her around, removing her hands from her face. “No, it really is, Maeva. Just tell me the truth. What did he promise you?” I scold.

“MY FAMILY!” she cries, shoving me. She wipes a single tear from her cheek, as she sighs, “It’ll bring back my family.”

I’m both stunned and devastated that she believed this lie. “That’s impossible,” I answer solemnly.

“Tiernan promised me he can make it happen if I help him find the Na Fíréin, and to do that, I have to retrieve the Crógemma. After this I’m free, Emyr,” she replies, as if she’s trying to convince herself it’s the truth. “I’ll have my family, and I can go home.”

I run a hand through my hair, sighing deeply. “Maeva, he’s never going to let you go,” I murmur. “If you give him your blood tied to that gem, you’ll be his… forever.”

Her jaw clenches as she shoves me once more. “Why do you care, Emyr?” she snarls. “At least he’s never hidden the fact that he finds me valuable.”

“You don’t underst?—”

“What don’t I understand?” she snaps. “I understand that you push me away because it’s easier for you.

I comprehend that you believe that you’re undeserving, even when I tell you that you are worthy of my affection.

I understand that being near me scares you, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. ”

“It’s because I love you,” I blurt out.

Maeva’s mouth parts slightly, lowering her raised palms to her sides. Her demeanor shifts as she regards me.

“You love me?” she asks.

I nod my head. “I’ve loved you since—” the words catch in my throat. The words I want to say… need to say… but can’t.

“Emyr,” she sighs. “I love you too.”

“I know,” I whisper hoarsely. “That’s exactly why I can’t be with you.

You’ll only be reminded of pain with me, and I can’t bear the thought of you resenting me.

I’m not a good man, Maeva. You deserve more than I could ever be, and I hope one day that you’ll find someone who is—even if it kills me.

I just beg of you to not force me to watch you become his , because from the beginning, you’ve always been mine.

The thought of another having any part of you makes me ill.

Yet, I refuse to be selfish and keep you here when you’re meant for so much more.

So, I’m pleading with you to choose another path, even if I never see you again.

Regardless of where you go from here, I’ll never love another. You’re it for me, my Rosey.”

Maeva cups my face in her hands, kissing me softly.

As my tears run through her fingers, she wipes them away with ease.

I wrap my arms around her tightly as she melts into me.

My Rosey will always be my safe haven, even if I can never be hers.

“I could never love another, Emyr,” she whispers.

“As I’ve already told you, my heart is yours—come what may.

I’ll never leave your side or abandon you.

Not even my deal with the king can sway my feelings for you. ”

I grimace, the mention of the king reminds me of what she’s expected to do. I lean in close, my mouth brushing against her ear. “He’s going to betray you, Maeva,” I warn.

“I know,” she whispers. “Which is why we’re going to run far away, hiding the Crógemma until we can study it further and see why he needs it so desperately.”

I smirk. My Rosey continues to surprise me. “What about your family?” I argue. “You’ve missed them so much.”

“I know,” she sighs. “But a wise friend recently reminded me that they’re at peace, and one day I’ll be reunited with them. It’d be cruel to bring them back to this realm,, knowing my life was never in Aurelius. I’ve always thought I was made for something more.”

“Where would we go?” I ask .

“I have a friend that has a safe place for us,” she answers vaguely, pulling out of my embrace.

I smile. She’s always been clever, but I still have so many questions… like who’s this mysterious friend? I’m about to ask her as much when hissing reminds me where we are.

“Assss sssickening assss thissss hassss been to watch,” the Basilisk interrupts, “your timesssss almosssst up. Ssssssoo, if you want the gem, you mussssst agree to the termssssss.”

The serpent isn’t wrong, the red lights have dimmed even since the last flicker.

Maeva straightens her posture and nods. “Bring me the Crógemma, Basilisk,” she responds. “I agree to your terms.”

The wicked creature hisses in delight, diving back into the watery depths.

Moments later, the Basilisk reemerges with a circular diadem of dark ruby stones slid onto one of its fangs.

“Allow my fang to pierce your palm, and the Crógemma will drop freely into your grasp if you’re the one that it seeks,” it hisses.

Maeva rubs her hands together.

“And if I’m not who the Crógemma seeks?” she inquires.

The serpent grins widely. “Prick your hand, Chosssssen Daughter.”

“No tricks?” Maeva asks.

“You have my word,” the Basilisk replies.

“Very well,” she sighs.

The Basilisk lowers its head to the steps, opening its enormous mouth to elongate its sharp fangs.

Maeva shakily holds out the palm of her hand, allowing the serpent to nick her skin, drawing a small pool of blood.

Slowly, the blood travels up the extended fang until it reaches each of the rubies.

One by one the gems fill with blood, gleaming in a brilliantly luminescent shade of crimson.

Then, just as the Basilisk promised, the diadem drops into Maeva’s waiting hand.

Raw power pulsates from the Crógemma. The power feels neither evil nor righteous, but instead, something that could be altered depending on the wielder.

I cut my gaze to Maeva and she can’t tear her eyes away from it.

Her features twist and contort with such sorrow that I fear the Crógemma is hurting her. “Maeva?” I ask.

She rotates the Crógemma, her eyes never straying from the rubies, as if mesmerized. “I know this diadem,” she murmurs. “I’ve held this before, a long time ago.” She slowly lifts her head, eyes searching. “I think it has something to do with my life before Aurelius.”

My heart plummets as the lights grow dimmer. I pull on her arm in an attempt to get her to climb the stairs, but she’s steadfast. “Maeva, we have to go,” I warn.

She ignores me, holding the diadem toward the Basilisk. “Who gave this to you?” Maeva inquires. “You said it was placed here, so who brought it to you?”

A cruel smile crosses its face, as it hisses its response. “You should know, because you were here when it was given.”