Page 34 of Bound By the Wraith: Northern Realms

“Elodi, drop the knife. Now.”

Cali opened her eyes and saw Elodi spin around in surprise. It was Cillian, fully enraged, horns and talons and flaming eyes.

“Cillian, but how? You should be back in your realm. Your mother and Gootch…”

“I didn’t take their offer,” Cillian roared. “Drop the knife, or I kill you. Tiene would be very sad to learn his princess has died.”

Elodi’s spine stiffened. “You kill me and he’ll send his army to avenge me.”

Cillian shrugged. “What, is that supposed to scare me? Seriously. Your father’s so-called army was defeated by lesser beings.”

“If I drop the knife, you’ll kill me anyway. So why shouldn’t I just do away with her?”

“If you drop the knife, I’ll let you crawl back to your realm, and you better not darken my doorway any longer. I don’t want to see you again. Do I make myself clear?”

Elodi looked back at Cali and then dropped the knife. “Your love of this mortal will be the downfall of us all.”

“Or the beginning of change, which I know your father doesn’t want. Know this, Elodi. Your realm will change and not for the better. Your realm is dying. Slowly.”

Elodi uttered a word which Cali didn’t understand and then disappeared.

Cillian rushed to her side, still a bit of a monster devil rather than his old self. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I tried to come back…”

“I know. I found Coraliane with her memory wiped. I couldn’t restore her memory, my powers are limited more, but I was able to see her memories.”

Cali nodded and Cillian helped her to her feet. “You gave up your realm for me?”

“Of course, I wasn’t going to let you cross over to eternity. Not without me,” Cillian sighed. “Unfortunately, I’m stuck here. We’re stuck here.”

Cali smiled. “I don’t care. So, what does this mean?”

“It means you’re free.”

“You and I can stay together?”

Cillian touched her cheek gently. “I love you, Cali. I would give up eternity and my plans to take over all the realms for you.”

“Take over all the realms?”

Cillian rolled his eyes. “I admit I love you and that’s what you focus on?”

“Well, it’s a lot to take in, but…I love you too, Cillian. I always have.” She kissed him and he wrapped his arms around her. She felt safe in his arms, like she was finally home, where she belonged.

“How did you manage to save my soul from Gootch?”

“I gave up my immortality.”

“What?” She gasped.

“Our souls are bonded, though. Some of my realm is imbued in you. We’re not dying anytime soon. We have a long time to be together.

She sighed in relief. “I just want to be with you.”

He kissed her tenderly and she clung to him. He gave up everything for her. That was love. Truly.

“What about Honk?” she asked, panicking.

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