Page 65 of Wraith

Then—footsteps.

Distant at first, then louder. Voices murmuring, laughter echoing through the hollow expanse of the theater.

I barely registered the sound before Lilith’s grip on me tightened, her phantom body pressing me deeper into the blood-soaked floor. Her breath ghosted against my ear, her nails digging into my shoulders as her pace quickened.

The doors creaked open. Shadows stretched long under the glow of flashlights, sweeping over rows of forgotten seats, over dust and decay.

Lilith’s fingers slipped over my mouth, sealing in my gasp.

"Shh," she whispered, her voice wicked and saccharine. "They can’t take you from me now."

The voices drew closer, unaware, unknowing. Someone chuckled. Another muttered about how creepy the place was.

But they wouldn’t see her.

They would see the blood, both hers and mine.

They would see my body, and Aeron's, and Thorne's.

The legend would be born even though no one outside of us would know why. That we werehers. That would be my greatest regret.

And as my body finally gave out, as my soul broke free and became hers forever, she whispered the only words I ever wanted to hear.

"I love you, too."

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