Page 43 of Tortured

The cat is still, now lying beside her.

A pain so fierce stabs me as I fall to my knees beside Niawen. Creator in heaven, what have you done? This thought is for the villain Caedryn. But he doesn’t hear me, doesn’t respond.

Blood froths at Niawen’s mouth, and she gasps for breaths. Ahnalyn stumbles forward and kneels on the other side of Niawen, sobbing, gasping as snot fills her sinuses and tears drip off her chin.

Niawen, I cry. My Niawen.

This can’t be happening!

I try running my ghostly hands through her. Take my light! It’s yours. Take it!

She coughs and spits more blood.

What is this? I paw at her. Niawen.

I ache with all sorts of pain. Shadows of blackness encroach on my vision.

Her light is not enough.

She’s going to die.

It’s time to say goodbye. Somehow I have to say goodbye.

I can’t do this. She can’t even hear me.

For years, I’ve loved you as you loved another man. Your joys were joys, but they were my pain. I kept you as safe as I could, and I watched you through the window of our joined souls. Don’t die, Niawen. Don’t die! Take the light from me. Take the light back! Live!

No matter how much I grunt and strain and paw over her, I cannot return her light. She’s dying.

Just slipping away.

When Niawen holds up her dragon stone, Ahnalyn clutches the stone in her palm and collapses on her mother.

Kenrik.

I startle. Niawen?

You’ve always held a piece of my heart. Your love has kept me strong. I feel you always. Be free now, and know I guard your soul.

A cut so sharp, as if made from a dagger with spines, rips through me.

My subconscious snaps back into my body as Niawen’s breath expires.

I drop to my knees and cradle my head in my hands and rock spastically. “Niawen… Niawen…”

She’s gone.

And she promises to haunt me forever.

Chapter 20

Hours pass before I’m able to gain control of my senses—

Before I can no longer feel the physical pain of Niawen’s death.

The emotional pain… I will always feel.

Riahn calls to me. Her arms come around me. She croons to me as she usually does when agony from my bonds rear. I’m always so astounded when she’s nurturing.

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