Page 282 of The Sins of Silas

I sobbed, my cuffed hands holding his face as I stumbled over him. “No…I can’t live without you.”

“Yes, youcan.” His hand trembled as he reached for my cheek, brushing away tears. “I love you so much…I only wish we had more time together.” He coughed, blood dripping from his mouth.

I cried harder.

“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry,” I wept.

“D-don’t be, Flower. This was not for nothing.” He pulled me into a kiss, my lips on his for a fleeting moment before he cried out at the pain from the curse.

“No…this can't be happening…”

He gave me a broken smile. “I am so grateful I found you again. You have made me truly content, something I never thought possible to feel again.”

I choked on a sob at the same time as he did.

“But you know the best part?” he whispered, resting his forehead against mine. “I got to fall in love with you all over again. Not that I had ever stopped.” He struggled to breathe, stifling a cough.

“I never stopped either, Silas,” I wept, my eyes falling to the blood that poured out of him. “Fuck, let me heal him, please!” I begged.

The soldier laughed. “You could try, but there is no cure for the Undead’s curse.”

My panicked eyes went to Erabella, who continued to stare at us with no emotion.

“How could you do this?!” I hissed, clinging to Silas's arms.

“Okay, that’s enough theatrics,” the soldier drawled. As he went to pull me away, Silas held my hand tight.

“Lena,” he murmured, tears falling down his cheeks as his golden eyes fixated on me. “Stop him…you're the only one who can.” He swallowed. “You will not give up,” he choked.

“Silas,” I shook my head rapidly. “Please…” I cried.

“You will not break.”

The guard grabbed me underneath my arms, and I flailed my limbs out as hard as I could.

“NO!” My efforts were futile; I had no magic or way of healing my lover.

When they began tugging me away, a sad smile formed on Silas's face. “I love you, Lena.”

“I love you more than anything,” I wailed. “Gods, no…please no…”

His eyes were barely open now, his breathing slow and uneven.

I resisted as much as I could, fighting back as they attempted to lug me and my friends out of the temple. That is until a sharp pain blossomed from the back of my head, and my vision turned black.

I woke up in a carriage, the bumps in the road jolting me awake.

My hazy vision darted between my friends, all awake, none of them talking. Elowen was weeping quietly, her head resting on Edmund’s chest. Viola sat next to her, her own tears staining her cheeks. I sat up, noting that my head had been resting on Torrin's shoulder. Roland was to my other side, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes red.

“H-how long have I been out?” I whispered.

“Almost an hour,” Torrin said softly, looking sadder than I had ever seen him before.

“Silas?” I cried.

Silence.

“Ravaiana abandoned us,” Elowen uttered with a blank stare. “Even in her own temple…she spurned us.”

---