Page 82 of The Warlock's Kiss

I have to go. I need to leave. I can’t…I can’t do this to him any longer.

Adalynn knew what it was like to be willing to sacrifice oneself for a loved one—she’d been ready to do so for Danny ever since the Sundering, and she wouldn’t have hesitated to at any point during which it became necessary. But her time had always been limited—she was alreadydyingwhen hell came to Earth. Merrick was not. And each time he’d fought back her cancer, it hurthim. When would it become too much? When would itkillhim?

I can’t let him hurt himself again.

Adalynn reached her room, grasped the handle, and threw the door open. Inside, she leaned down and grabbed her bugout bag—which she hadn’t moved since Merrick said they could stay indefinitely—and tossed it onto the bed. Shaking out her pants, she shoved her legs into them, pulled them up, and fastened their buttons.

She still felt him inside her, still felt the lingering ache of her orgasm, felt the evidence of what they’d shared. That moment, this day, had been soperfect—like a dream. But that was all this could have ever been for Adalynn—a dream, a fantasy, a wish, so ephemeral that the wind could’ve swept it from her grasp and carried it away at any moment. It was something she never could’ve held onto.

After wiping her face with the back of her hand, she reached for her boots, which stood beneath the window. Another bolt of agony pierced her skull, and for a moment, her vision wavered. She dropped to her knees and clutched her head between her hands, curling her fingers to grasp fistfuls of her hair. The stinging pain on her scalp only made everything worse.

It’s coming.

“No,” she rasped. “No, please. Not now. Not yet. Please justwait, just give me a little longer.”

But she knew her pleading would change nothing—something inside her, something dark, told her this would be the end. It was more than pessimism, more than acceptance of her inevitable fate. The specter of death had been following her for months, and now it was right on her heels, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

Once the pain finally ebbed, Adalynn took in a deep, shaky breath, grabbed her boots, and tugged them on. Standing slowly, she returned to her bag and paused. She didn’t need any of it—the clothes, the emergency energy bars, the tools, the supplies. They’d serve Danny better, if he ever found himself in need.

“Addy? What’s going on?”

Adalynn started at the voice behind her and turned to find Danny standing just inside her room. His hair was mussed, as though he’d just woken up, and he was wearing was a pair of long athletic shorts and a tank top.

His brow furrowed as he searched her face. “What’s wrong? And what’s wrong with Merrick?”

Adalynn ran to her brother and threw her arms around him. She held him tight as a fresh flood of tears fell from her eyes. “I love you, you know that, right?”

Danny embraced her. “Yeah, of course I do. I love you, too. But what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

Adalynn couldn’t speak for a time; all she could do was hold her brother, breathe in his scent, and feel his warmth, his solidness. He’d grown so much just in the short time they’d been here. She tightened her hold on him.

Another crash—and another roar—sounded from downstairs.

Danny started and pushed away from her. “Addy! What’s going on? What’s wrong with Merrick? Why are you crying?”

Adalynn forced herself to release her brother. Her arms fell to her sides, and she took a step back. She needed to be calm for Danny. He didn’t need to see her fear, didn’t need to worry about her.

Taking another deep breath—and trying to ignore the insistent, throbbing ache in her head—she met her brother’s gaze. “It’s coming.”

At first, confusion contorted his features, but realization dawned swiftly. His eyes widened, his eyebrows rose high, and a panicked gleam overpowered the concern that had been in his gaze. “I’ll go get Merrick.”

“Danny, no!” Adalynn reached out and caught her brother’s shirt as he turned to leave. Her fingers clutched the fabric, bringing him to a stop.

He turned to face her again. “What do you mean,no? We need him to stop it!

She shook her head. Her skin prickled, tingling and numb all at once, and her heart raced. “No. We’re not stopping it.”

He scowled and tugged easily out of her grip, taking a step backward into the hall. “What the hell, Addy? Why not?”

“Because it can’t be stopped, Danny! We knew that. We’ve always known that. It was only a matter of time.”

“But Merrick—”

“No!”

Danny flinched; it added to the worst of Adalynn’s pain—the pain in her heart.

“I don’t want Merrick to help again,” Adalynn continued, lowering her voice. “You saw what it did to him. We don’t know what more it will do. It couldkillhim, Danny.”

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