Page 84 of Façade

Fear as I’d never before experienced seized me in its unrelenting grip, squeezing my heart so tightly I feared it’d break. “Evie?” The horror wrenching my voice made it nigh impossible to push past the terror paralyzing my limbs to shakily fumble for her hand as I rested the back of my other against her pale skin, icy to the touch. “Evie? Evie! Please wake up.Please.”

I shook her again but she remained completely still. A horrible possibly overtook me. Had Ikilledher? Please, I couldn’t have…I’d never be able to live with myself.

Through the horror and despair clouding my thoughts, I faintly heard the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps and registered the arrival of her guard. “What did you do to her?”

He didn’t give me a chance to even attempt to find words adequate to explain before he pushed me away. I landed against the flagstones but scarcely felt the sharp pain, my entire attention eclipsed by Evie as her guard rested a frantic hand on her brow. After a long, agonizing moment he muttered a curse before snapping his hardened glare to me.

“You took nearly all of it, despite her faith in you that you wouldn’t.”

Guilt gnawed my heart, sharp and poisoning. “No, I—I didn’t mean—“But you did, my conscience whispered.In the end you didn’t resist. The truth deepened my shame.

The guard wasn’t interested in my excuses, none of which would reverse what I’d done. His attention returned to Evie to press his hand against her face, still far too pale. I swallowed, afraid to voice the question I most feared. “Is she—“

Just then the head priest, drawn by our commotion, rounded the corner. He froze when his gaze fell upon Evie, looking near death.

“What happened?” He shakily knelt beside her.

“Evie. She—” Emotion robbed me of words. I couldn’t admit what I’d done, even as I ached to confess, hoping the penance would somehow help the woman I loved, even as my shame compelled me to bury my sin.

“Her magic has been stolen, powers still so new for her that she’s scarcely able to control them.”

The head priest’s breath hooked at the guard’s words. “Oh dear.” Seriousness marred his expression as he gently lifted Evie’s hand, his fingers pressing against her pulse. He listened for a tense moment before his shoulders sank with relief. “Not all of it was taken. Enough remains that she should recover.”

Horror seized my heart at the shock that if I’d taken much more, Evie might have…I couldn’t even imagine my precious wife pale and lifeless…all because of me. Thank goodness I’d been able to fight against the seduction’s powerful force before it’d been too late, but though I’d resisted just before I’d stolen all her magic, I hadn’t been strong enough to stop before I’d hurt her.

“Can you help her?” I pleaded.

He nodded. “Bring her to her room. I’ll send for the healers.”

I reached out to carry Evie there myself, but her guard had already scooped her into his arms with a look that forbade me from touching her, let alone following, one I couldn’t obey. I felt a flare of protectiveness that compelled me to remain by her side, even when I understood through my whirlwind of emotions that it was the last thing I deserved.

“Please, I must—I can’t leave her. She’s my wife.”

He looked at me with a glare so sharp with hatred I felt skewered. “How dare you lay claim to such a title when from the beginning it’s been your intention to hurt her.”

I felt as if I’d been slapped. “Please, I didn’t mean—”

He motioned to Evie still cradled in his arms. “Your greed did this. You stay away from her or it’ll be the last thing you’ll ever do.” Before I could offer a weak defense he carried her away. I hastened to my feet, but the priest seized hold of my arm with a vise-like grip that prevented me from following.

“What are you doing? Let me go.” I tried to wrench away, but his hold remained firm.

He shook his head in firm warning and I stopped resisting. I watched helplessly as my wife was carried away, my gaze lingering long after she was out of sight. Only then did my emotions overcome me and I crumpled to the ground.

The priest crouched beside me to rest a hand on my arm, a gesture of comfort I felt unworthy of. “Will she be alright?” Emotion wrenched my voice.

He was silent far too long. “I have reason to hope, but we must still pray.”

I sent dozens heavenward before I spoke again. “I swear I didn’t mean—“ But in the end it changed nothing. Evie had been hurt…byme. I should have annulled our marriage the moment I recognized how strong my temptation’s hold over me was and avoided her until the deed had been done. If something happened to her…I’d never be able to forgive myself for as long as I lived.

“How did I—“ I couldn’t even finish.

“Your marriage created a magical connection between you, granting you the ability to take some of her magic even without that vial. This too has caused her pain; magic must be given freely, never taken.”

Horror caused my breath to catch, further confirmation that I should have severed our union as soon as possible.

My gaze flickered down to the vial still clenched in my white-knuckled fist. I slowly uncurled my fingers to stare at the shimmering magic, so little power for the sacrifice Evie had been forced to render because of my selfishness.

Self-loathing such as I’d never before experienced consumed me, so acute I feared I’d drown. How could I in good conscience use power tainted by hurting the woman I cared for?

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