Page 89 of Shadow's Heart

Why would she not listen to him?Maybe because you keep lying to her. And she knows you do.Pocketing his sand, he hastened after her into the hall. “Can you just stop for a moment and discuss this?”

She didn’t slow when she reached the steps and hurried past the never-ending orgy. “I won’t rehash the same arguments. And it’s not like I sprang this on you.”

“Why won’t youtryto drink me? What would one bite hurt?”

“The time for that has passed. Besides, right now, I’m not sure Iwantto know you that well.”

A mace blow to the chest would’ve hurt less. But he deserved that and more.

Downstairs, banging sounded as the bridge unfurled.She’s actually leaving me?“Another Lorean with more information might arrive. Your brother might. Xodin just told me that those two immortals somehow survived the hellhounds and will close in on the castle soon. We only need to maintain until then.” He raised his regenerating wrist.

When she refused to look at it, striding on toward the foyer, frustration sharpened his words: “You’re ready to get both of us killed out there. You’re selfish! A typical princess. Nothing matters beyondyourillness. You’ve given no thoughts to whatIneed to survive.”

She finally slowed and turned to him. “That’s not true. If you want to survive, you must leave this place. Can you trust me enough to do that? Please, Adham.”

Adham.Fists clenched, he stalked over to stand before her. “You’ll never be satisfied with me! You expect me to bend and bend. This reed will break.”

She raised her hand to his cheek. “I hope the reed will grow. And I’ll grow right beside you.”

He just stopped himself from leaning into her touch. But tonight was not the night he planned to lose her—or to die.

She murmured, “Fight for me.” The words were part question, part command; directness mixed with sweetness. “Fight for us?” Her palm trembled against his cheek. So much expectancy . . .

He gritted his teeth, then snapped, “Give me something Icanfight! With you, it’s fucking plague and primordials. You expect too much from me.”

She lowered her hand with that gut-wrenchingly stoic look.

Grasping for calm, he rasped, “If you want to punish me for lying to you, this is not the way to do it.”

“Yes. So many lies.” Her brows drew together, her expression crestfallen. “You said we would comb the worlds together for a cure.”

He held up his wrist again. “Yet you won’t even try the one on offer right here!”

She wasn’t looking at his injury, just stared into his eyes. Hers welled with tears.

Unable to bear her grief, he raised his face to the sky and loosed a roar.“Ahhh!”He met her gaze again, not bothering to hide all the turmoil inside him. When she gasped at what she saw, he gripped her nape, his hand shaking on her. “If there’s nothing I can say to change your mind, then you lied too! You told me your heart was open to me. Forever.”

“It is!” she cried. “Which is why this hurts so much. Sorcerer, I stayed herefor you. Even as I got sicker, I stayed to give you a chance to see what is right before you. But you haven’t. And I don’t think you can.” She drew back, freeing herself from his grip.

“Don’t,” he bit out. “You cannot leave me.”

Voice breaking, she said. “I have to, because even now, I’m tempted to give you more time.” She dashed the back of her hand against her eyes. “Time I don’t have.” Clasping her swordhandle as if for comfort, she whispered, “Good-bye, sorcerer,” and stepped out onto the bridge.

In disbelief, he watched her putting space between them, watched her form grow smaller as she reached the other end of the bridge and picked up her pace. Self-preservation warred with undefinable emotion.Go with her. Live—or perish—with her.

He’d just taken a step when Enti sidled up to him.

“Let her go, friend. In her heart, Kosmina wishes to meet a heroic end, and in your heart, you wish to remain in the comfort of my keep. She doesn’t belong here, but you do.”

As Kosmina passed out of sight, he said, “I belong with her.” He’d just taken another step when dragon’s breath enveloped him like a miasma. His lids went heavy.

At his ear, Enti murmured, “The Silt Harea of old would not follow a woman he’d known for such a short time into a nightmare.”

True.And he must still be that man. Kosmina had coaxed him, warned him, offered her partnership and maybe even her love. But he hadn’t committed to her. Of course she’d felt like she had to go without him.Shewas the reed that had bent and bent.

Enti continued, “That ghoul queen won’t kill you; she’llkeepyou. What purpose do you think you’ll serve for her as a new slave? A sentry or a common drone? Perhaps you’ll dig tunnels in her hive, laboring like you used to. As we Sorceri often say, ‘Once an Inferi, always an Inferi.’”

That word still carried a blade’s bite—yet all he cared about was Kosmina’s fate against the primordial. His princess needed him. She needed his blood from the flesh. His protection. Him.

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