Page 63 of The Secret of Pain

Please don’t be important.

I lift my phone and see Kain’s name. I maybe should have been more discreet, but no one really pays attention to my phone except for me.

Kain:

I miss you, mon amour. Not long until I will see you again, however Roman’s arrival is causing problems. A gift for you, to remind you of me until we meet again. K.

The text makes me smile, even if it doesn’t all make sense. He’s so old school, even in a text. It’s kind of… adorable. Probably won’t tell him that to his face though. I place my phone back down when the knock sounds against my door. Wondering who the hell that is, I stand, opening the door and coming face to face with nothing but air.

I look down and see the small black box, again wrapped with violet ribbon. Glancing around again to see if there’s anyone lurking, I don’t sense anyone there, so I wait a full minute, trying to use my hearing in case I’m missing anything. I decide there really isn’t anyone there so reach down and claim it, shutting and locking the door behind me.

My phone buzzes again on the table, but I ignore it and look down at the small ring box, my breathing shallow. I untie the soft ribbon slowly, drawing it out, unsure if I want whatever is in the box. I lift the lid and gasp at what I find.

A black iridium wishbone ring, with a pear-shaped amethyst set in its center.

It’s beautiful. I lift it from the box and slide it onto my index finger, the fit perfect. Such a thoughtful gift, the elements that represent us both. The iridium for his greatest weakness, and the amethyst for my eyes. I go back to the couch and pick up my phone to thank him, when I spot another message from him.

Kain:

A treasure for my treasure. One I have kept for a millennia and gifted you a dozen times. I hope you like it as much in this life as you have in your others. K

This ring has been mine for longer than I remember, and that he kept it safe for me makes my heart burst. Such a small thing, but representative of so much. I lie down, my mood suddenly plummeting.

How on earth will I choose when the time calls for it?

I take a deep breath, deciding that now is not the time to worry over it. Fate only knows how many other things I have to juggle right now as it is. I head to bed, and leave the window open for Sushi to return when he sees fit.

* * *

I run through the passageways, so dark that I can barely see my hand in front of my face, but I let my instincts guide me. The sound of steel on steel rings out in the distance, and I push harder. If I don’t get there… I don’t want to think of what could happen.

The air whips past me as I move as fast as my body will carry me, barely a shadow to mortal eyes. That’s when I hear the roar, and I fear I am too late. Lights flicker in the distance, and I know I am close. So close.

I hurtle forward and crash into the room, finding the two of them locked in battle, their movements so fast, each as strong as the other.

I cannot let them kill each other; my heart could not take it. I watch, waiting for an opening to bring an end to the madness, and rush forward, knowing that this will be the end of me in this life but knowing that it is a sacrifice I would make time and again.

I reach them and feel the blade pierce my heart. For a second, everything stops, no one breathes as they realize what has happened.

“Remy, no!” Creek catches me as my knees fail and falls to his knees with me, cradling me in his arms.

“What did you do!” Roman roars, pulling at the dark locks of his hair.

“Stop, please.” My words pierce the air as blood trickles from my mouth. “Stop this madness. You cannot kill or blame each other. The choice was my own.”

“I do not understand,” Creek says as Roman paces in front of us before crumbling to the floor on my other side.

“My mate…” his hushed cries make tears well in my eyes as Creek’s gaze snaps to Roman.

“That isn’t possible,” he grits out before looking back down at me. “Tell me this isn’t true, Remy.”

He pleads, and I know he doesn’t understand, he couldn’t, and yet I beg him to try with my eyes.

“Nothing is impossible in our world, Creek,” I say and rest my hand on his cheek as tears stream down his face.

Roman lifts me from Creek’s arms and cradles me against his chest.

“Where are the Witches? We must get her to one,” he growls. “Your foolishness and bigoted hatred will be the death of her.”

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