Page 98 of A City of Smoke and Demons
At the bottom of the stairs, in the soft darkness of the basement, Ezra pulled her close. He didn’t say anything, resting his forehead against hers, breathing with her. She placed her hand over his heart, life surging beneath her fingers.
‘It’s funny,’ he said eventually. ‘I spent years hunting death witches, believing what I was doing was the right thing, and now, my life depends on one. Ironic, isn’t it?’
Analise brushed her mouth against his. Even now, in what could be his final moments, he didn't tell her he’d tried to save the witches but she didn’t mind. She knew, even if he wasn’t aware of it.
The others were waiting in Charles’ lab. Analise’s grip on Ezra’s hand tightened when she saw the chair, leather strapshanging loose. No one said anything as Ezra released her hand and made his way to the seat.
‘Shirt off,’ Lira said, voice wobbling. ‘So I can monitor the mark.’
He peeled his shirt away, not looking at anyone as he sat. Jem began tying the leather belts around Ezra’s torso. ‘You can change your mind,’ he said. Ezra shook his head. Jem finished strapping him down, and stepped away.
A solemn Charles placed a chair directly in front of Ezra’s.
Analise sat. Her fingers trembled uncontrollably.
‘I trust you,’ Ezra said. His hands were resting palms up on his thighs. She stared at him for a long time, then took a deep breath and placed her hands in his.
‘Close your eyes,’ she whispered.
He did. She gave his hands a squeeze, and then her magic was inside him.
Analise wasn’t going to look at him while she killed him. Months ago, she would have done this with no hesitation. Months ago, she hated him. He’d lied to her, deceived her deliberately, held her prisoner …
But it didn’t matter anymore.
This had to work so she could tell him that he meant something to her.
She kept her breathing steady as she guided her magic slowly through Ezra’s circulatory system. His hands were warm, fingers gripping hers tightly, but as she worked, she felt them relax. She followed that roadmap of veins until she arrived at his heart.
Life curled around her, warm and bright. This was the part where everything could go wrong. Carefully, she gathered the threads of his life, weaving them together, coaxing it into a ball, then closing her magic around it, trapping life within death. When she was certain Ezra’s lifeforce was secure, Analise aimed her power at his heart, blocking the blood flow. Ezra didn’t do what Charles expected—he didn’t fight her at all, trusting her completely.
His fingers slackened.
His heart stopped.
Analise opened her eyes. Ezra’s head was slumped forward, his chest not moving.
He looked like he was sleeping.
But he was dead.
‘Start the clock,’ she croaked, throat raw. She didn’t take her eyes off him while time crawled by. Lira was sitting behind him, watching the mark on his skin.
‘It’s still there,’ she said.
‘How much longer?’ Analise held Ezra’s lifeforce steady. It flickered and danced, strong.
‘You’ve got a minute left,’ Charles said.
She risked a glance at Lira and kept her breathing steady. Lira shook her head. Analise’s muscles screamed. Ezra’s lifeforce wasn’t dancing around as much anymore. It was growing colder, sluggish.
‘I’m bringing him back,’ she announced.
‘Wait,’ Lira said. ‘Just wait.’
‘Twenty seconds until two minutes,’ Charles murmured.
Analise glanced at Lira, who was watching Ezra’s shoulder. His hands were growing cold in hers now. ‘Lira—’
