Page 34 of A Rising Hope

Gideon will die.

The realization hit me a moment too late.

Godric already knew that fact. Was prepared for it.

My mouth dropped open in disbelief.

I shook my head. Refusing to accept it. But the sharp silence grew heavier, my knees wobbled, and I grabbed on to the back of the oak kitchen chair to keep me from falling.

“It was Gideon’s blood magic combined with my powers that allowed us to open the portal between spaces. He could make a bridge between the drop of your blood that he had and your actual presence,” Godric explained. “As a strong Healer, I could enhance his powers, but I myself cannot do what he does.” He paused, and those cowardly eyes stared back. “But even if I could open a portal here, which I cannot, with Gideon’s blood shields in place, nothing . . .nothingcan enter nor leave that place now . . . Even when he dies.”

When he dies . . .

My hand went to my mouth, stifling the cry ready to burst out of my chest.

“So, you knew, and you fucking sent him to the slaughter?!” I locked my eyes on him, anger wrapping tight around my throat. Fury, the only shield around my heart, kept it from complete and immediate destruction.

“You must understand, there was no other way to prevent the Queen from her ascension to godhood. She’s discovered you and your mixed magic. She would have chased you until your very last breath. You’d never have a moment of peace. And when she would’ve taken you—which she’s already done once—she would not have given you a second chance to run. You’d be dead.” He gestured with his chin to my new wrists, as if proving his point. “This is not some fairytale, Finn. She would have finally become a god, destroying the world,” Godric continued. “Gideon wanted to save you; this was his only chance. A possibility to save you and at last bring peace to the world?—”

“At the cost of his own fucking life!” My voice became heated. Thoughts crowded my mind. My head throbbed like it was going to explode, and my vision blurred.

I was going to throw up.

“I know it’s hard for you to process this. But you must understand this was the best outcome for everyone.” My jaw snapped at that.

I let out a harsh scoff.Best outcome for everyone.Perhaps it was the flames that he saw flickering at my fingertips, at his words, but he hastily added,

“He left you a letter.” Godric reached for one of the drawers. “You should read it.” He handed me the neat envelope with the black seal of the Destroyer General.

I held the letter in my shaking, paled hands, staring at the immaculately written initials.

G. B.

I vehemently ripped the seal, forcing my mind to come out of the haze, to process the words my eyes were seeing.

My dear Finnleah, my wife, my love, my little wildfire, the queen of my heart, body, and soul.

If you are reading this, I am afraid my worst nightmares have come true.

I feverishly skimmed rows of carefully crafted sentences.

I devoured the words he had written with that comforting handwriting. Words, like jaded daggers, tore into my heart, mercilessly cutting it piece by piece.

No.

Gideon was well aware that he wasn’t coming back.

He knew there was no going back once he’d sealed this letter.

And this was his goodbye. A fuckingletter.

I’ve been living my life selfishly for so long that for once I’m so glad I have someone worth dying for . . .

I turned the page over; the lines blurred. A large teardrop landed on the pages, smudging the dry ink.

I know you are heartbroken; I am so sorry . . .

I wish I could be there to comfort you, to lull your broken heart. I wish we had more time . . .

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