Page 144 of Tin God

Brigid frowned and looked down as the vampire in front of her seemed to shrink before her eyes.

No, not shrink.

The ground was eating Zasha from below.

“No!” they screamed again.“Noooo!”

Brigid saw her opportunity and ran, blasting a stream of fire at Zasha’s hand.

They screamed and dropped the sword, which Brigid picked up, her flesh sizzling against the heated steel as she lifted the sword from the ground, drew her arm back, and swung.

Zasha’s eyes went wide the moment the blade bit their neck.

Then the metal sliced through their spine and it was over.

The world around Brigid erupted in flames, and the ground beneath her opened up, swallowing her whole.

He moved effortlesslythrough the silent earth, using his amnis to protect her from the fire, pushing away the rocks and roots until he could sense her. He felt the hum of her amnis glowing like a banked fire in the darkness.

Carwyn pushed through the soil until he was next to her, stretching his body out with the earth between them. Then he moved his hand, clearing a pocket around her face but leaving the rest of her smothered in the cool soil. Her warm, loving eyes flickered open.

He couldn’t stop staring. Her face was flecked with faint scars from Zasha’s flames, but her eyes were the same, the warm brown charred with grey along the edges, her gaze holding his as firmly as she held his heart.

He said nothing. What was there to say?

“You came,” she whispered.

“I’ll always come for you.”

“I didn’t feel you near.”

He smiled a little bit. “You had it, darling girl. I just gave you a little assist at the end. This was your battle to win.”

“With you.” She took a deep breath and laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m always better with you.”

“Glad you finally realized it.”

She smiled, but it died away quickly. “The humans on the boat?”

“Ben was fighting with Jennie when I left. They had the upper hand, Brigid. They’ll get everyone out that they can.”

“Tenzin was hurt.”

“She’ll survive. That little vampire will always survive. It’s her blessing and her curse.”

“Yes.” Brigid blinked, and he could feel her mind already pulling away from that moment, already reaching for the innocents who might still be in danger. “I’m naked.”

“I noticed that, yes.”

“Might need to borrow your shirt if we need to get back to theNautilus,” she whispered.

“Or you could rest for a bit.” Carwyn’s heart ached. “Let others fight the battle for a while.”

“Carwyn—”

“Will you rest, Brigid? Just for this night. There will be another battle to fight tomorrow.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I promise. There will be others you can help. But just for tonight, trust our friends to do the rest. You’ve done enough for now.”

She whispered, “It’s not enough. It’ll never be enough.”

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