Page 96 of Prince of Storms
“I don’t … feel so good,” he said, even as the original light flickered back on.
“Oh, my god,” I gasped as I caught a look at his face.
He was aging before my eyes. His skin was thinning and growing taut, even as age bent him over, wizening his frame.
“What is this? Why?” I yelped, looking out into the darkness of the mountain. “Tor, what do I do? What do I do?”
“I don’t think there’s anything youcando,” he whispered, falling to one knee, suddenly too weak to support himself. “I guess … I guess I was wrong. The mirror was wrong. All of it. I’m not your mate. We aren’t meant to be.”
“Don’t say that,” I snapped. “You don’t believe that.”
“Yes, I do,” he said. “Can’t you see? It’s obvious. I’m sorry, Mia. I didn’t mean to do this to you.”
“No,” I said, watching his hair turn gray and fall away in clumps. “I don’t believe this.”
“Why not?” Tor wanted to know.
“Because I don’t. It’s not right. Wearemates. You are my mate, Torrent. Fuck the God-King. His opinion doesn’t matter on this. I know what I know. I love you, dammit, and this iswrong!”
I walked to the edge of the ledge, staring out into the darkness. “I know you’re out there! Get your ancient, oversized white-scaled ass back up here and stop this! You fix Torrent right now, or I’ll … I’ll …”
Fury filling me, I took off my shoes and hurled them into the darkness. “Fix him, you worthless excuse for a god! He believed in you totally, and you do this to him? Damn you! You don’t deserve their loyalty.”
I spat into the darkness before rushing back to Tor’s side. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, helping him down to the ground. “This has to be my fault. I didn’t believe enough. I shouldn’t have hesitated. But I swear, Torrent, I swear, Idolove you. I want to spend the rest of my time with you. And if that’s only another thirty seconds, then so be it. I’m not leaving you.”
He looked up at me, his eyes watery and rheumatoid. He lifted a shaky arm to my face. “Did you just throw away your shoes?”
I winced. “I’m sorry. Were they expensive?”
“A little bit,” he said. “But you did that for me?”
I nodded. “I spit on him, too. Callous, cruel, and worthless.”
Torrent tapped my chest. “The spirit of a dragon in you.”
I smiled. “I love you.”
He closed his eyes and leaned into me. “I love you, too.”
“I would have loved you for eternity,” I added, closing my eyes and resting my chin on his head. “No matter the cost. I am yours, Torrent. Forever.”
As Torrent took his final breath, the darkness stirred. My eyes opened just in time to see my shoes come flying out of the dark to land next to me.
Then, white light burst forth from all around us, breaking through reality like it was an eggshell, cracking in a million places.
I screamed, and the shell burst.
When I could see again, we were sitting in a pair of stone chairs in a circular room.
Wewere sitting.
“Torrent?” I gasped, clutching at his long, youthful,strongarm. “You’re okay?”
He nodded. “I am. I feel … great.”
“You’ve alive!” I shouted, launching myself into his lap, dress be damned. I glanced down at it, figuring what more damage could I do. “Hey! The dress. It’s repaired! And you, you have a crown on!”
I’d found out that last part by accident when I’d pressed my head to his and received a poke in return.
