Page 167 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

“What?” I run.

“Just let it be peaceful,” he whispers, the blood in his mouth forcing out a sickening gurgling sound with the words.

“What?” Tears prickle in my eyes, and I blink them away while I run.

“Look at me, Luc,” his voice is so weak, there’s no way that I couldn’t do what he’s asking of me. I stop, against my will, and I look into his glassy eyes. Soon to be lifeless eyes—no.

He’ll make it. He has to make it.

There isn’t a world where he won’t make it. There isn’t a time, there isn’t a universe where he dies. Where he doesn’t exist.

I won’t allow it.

I force shadows into every inch of his bleeding wound that I can. It stops some of the blood, but not a worthy percentage. It keeps gushing through. Even magic can’t fix fatality.

Mortality.

The stinger is too far into his body.

No.

“I’m ready to surrender.” Azaire grabs my arm, but his grip is so loose. So lifeless. “I surrender,” he whispers again, weakly nodding his head.

“No,” I shout. “No! You’re not dying because of me!”

“I love you, brother,” he whispers, his eyes shuddering closed while he strains to keep them open. His hand slides down my arm that holds him, trying to clasp onto mine but it falls right out. I pick up his limp hand for him. “It’s not—” he chokes, “your fault.” His eyes open for one, single second. His voice is hoarse when he whispers, “I’ll never blame you.”

“Azaire, open your eyes!” I start running again for the infirmary. They can do something, the Eunoia are made to heal. They can mend him.

Blood oozes from his mouth. “It doesn’t hurt, Luc.” I can barely hear him. “Peace.” His eyes are closed and his red mouth is open. His heart is beating. It won’t be for long, will it?

I surrender. Those words permeate my brain. Peace. I suppose I can give him peace.

I bring him to the ground and pull the stinger from his body, praying that the venom has not spread enough to cause permanent damage to his soul. I hold his hand, hoping that I can offer my brother some semblance of his final wish in his final breaths.

Chapter 34

Death Does You Well

DESDEMONA

Surma, the first child of Amun and Eira, was the greatest warrior Elysia had ever seen. He made a glorious career of slaying corenths, which was honorable in their time eons ago. But Elsyina, Eira’s younger sister, wanted that title for her first son. Elysina manipulated a fatta scorpion, using the creature to kill Surma and decimate his soul. Eira took her son to Sulva, begging the goddess to put Surma in the sky so he could live on. Now, we have a cluster of stars in his name.

— CONSTELLATIONS FOR KIDS BY ARTHFURD HARREIGHS

I’ve finally succumbed to Leiholan’s incessant whining about vesi. Besides, the cold sweats, vomiting, and night terrors aren’t pretty. I’m sure every healer in the infirmary agrees with me.

The man just lost his leg, and the best I can offer him are the three bottles of vesi I carry. Two under my arms, one in my hand.

Light-brown hair grabs my attention, shining in the small amount of moonlight that enters the halls. No one is supposed to be out of their rooms, though I haven’t even been in my room since the lockdown either.

The curly hair is replaced by a familiar face. “Desdemona?” the girl calls. Eleanora. Why would Eleanora be talking to me?

“Yeah?”

“It’s you?” She takes a step closer, and two more people step out of the shadows.

“Why?” I ask wearily. Do I really have to do this again?

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