Page 103 of Witch Queen

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Light filled Rose’s world.She blinked and nearly stumbled, her feet touching solid ground for the first time in months. She looked dazedly at the broken sword in her hand before dropping it and staring at her shaking fingers, conscious of a burning sensation on her right shoulder blade.

“Rose?!”

Rose’s head snapped up.

Heat spread through her cold flesh and made her heart swell at the sight of the woman taking hesitant steps toward her, her large, black eyes round with shock and swimming with tears, her beautiful face crumpling.

“Mae!”

Rose rushed into her best friend’s arms.

“Rose!” Mae sobbed.

She squeezed her tightly, like she never intended to let her go.

Rose took a moment to bask in the warmth of the woman she had long considered her sister. She pulled back, conscious there wasn’t much time left.

“You must bind my soul to this body and kill me, Mae! It’s the only way to get rid of that demon!”

The color drained from Mae’s face. “What?!”

“Rose is right, Mae.”

Rose recognized the man who appeared at Mae’s shoulder. He was the one who had stood by her side since the very beginning. From that dark night when her and Mae’s world changed forever more. And now, at the end. His magic brightened his gaze even as regret and sorrow carved deep lines in his handsome face.

“Ran Soyun told me and Azazel before we left Hell that this is the only way to truly free Rose and stop Barquiel,” he murmured.

A demon with large, curved horns approached, his face full of kindness as he willed his strength upon his daughter. “Nikolai is right.”

“I can’t.” Mae looked blindly at her father and the sorcerer before staring at Rose. She swallowed and shook her head, panic quickening her breaths. “I can’t kill you, Rose! That’s?—!”

Pain tore through Rose’s stomach. She winced and clenched her jaw. She could feel Barquiel trying to regain control of her body.

Rose scowled and grasped Mae’s face. “It has to be you, Mae! Because you know me! Because youloveme! That’s why you must be the one who sends me to my eternal rest.”

Mae clasped her fingers, sobs shaking her frame.

Tears choked Rose’s breath.

“This body is but a shell, Mae.” She hugged the trembling witch. “I died a long time ago. The only thing that remains of me is a fragment of my soul. A fragment Barquiel imprisoned so he could use this body. So let me go, Mae. I beg of you.” Her voice broke. “Let me return to the cycle of life and death.”

Heat pierced Rose’s body. She looked down at the dagger of dazzling magic Mae had embedded in her flesh.

* * *

Mae’s heartshattered into a million pieces when Rose slowly lifted her head and met her unblinking gaze. Her best friend smiled, her hauntingly beautiful eyes dazzling her as they filled with happiness and relief.

Mae’s heart thudded dully inside her chest. She whispered the third spell Azazel had taught her. The one Vedran had used to imprison Balkin’s soul.

“Soul Bind.”

Rose shuddered and closed her eyes briefly.

Barquiel’s demonic presence faded from Mae’s awareness.

“Thank you, Mae.” Rose closed her arms around her, bleeding out from the fatal wound Mae had inflicted in her abdomen. “I love you, sister of…my…heart…”

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