Page 30 of Darkest Need

Tears keep streaming down her face. “What? What else?” She presses her lips to my neck and starts sobbing. “What else, Tarek? Tell me.”

“We”—I look up at the dark ceiling—“can control the stars.”

She jerks back. “Nobody ever told me that.”

“You are Lilith.” I cup her face with my shaking hands. “You’ve been cursed to roam for too long without any sort of rest. It’s time, daughter of the Creator. It’s time to go home.”

“I have none.”

My hand drops against my chest while the other covers her face. “Of course, you do. It’s right here.” My heartbeat is off, but the gesture is the same. I always wondered what death would look like for me. All I saw was darkness, but now I know why it was dark.

Because I had to search for the star.

I had to look for her light.

I hold both hands up to the ceiling, close my eyes, and whisper, “I need one to fall. Choose.”

The room begins to shake as most of my strength leaves my body, and my essence pulses in mourning.

A bright light cracks through the ceiling and drops next to the bed, crashing into tiny little crystals. Then a beautiful woman with ebony skin and bright blue eyes walks toward us and kneels. “It is my honor to give you my light.”

Danu runs into the room with a blade.

But all I focus on is the beauty of the star of the light that pours out of her. Her willingness to give of herself no matter the cost. I know that once they fall, the Creator has a special place for the stars. And she does, too.

There is no war. There is no division. There is only sacrifice, followed by honor, love, joy.

Peace.

The world could be healed by someone like her. And now the first will be.

The star smiles and reaches for my hand. “Blood must always be spilled. A sacrifice must always be made.” She grabs Lilith’s hand and squeezes it. “It has been an honor to watch you.”

The blade Danu has goes directly into the star’s back.

As the first drop of blood descends, I grab it and press it to Lilith’s forehead.

My last deed.

My final sacrifice.

Everything goes dark as I hold the star’s hand.

Everything goes black as Lilith is finally filled with light.

Purpose.

Chapter Fourteen

Cassius

The Earth trembles.

The table beneath us suddenly breaks in half.

All of us jerk away from it.

“Something’s off.” Mason looks around. “Something is…” He looks down at his hands. They have blood mixed with a weird crystalline substance on them.

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