Page 83 of Shadow

I had failed my country.

I was saving a little boy, andthiswas the defining moment of my life. I had always wondered why I survived when so many others didn’t.

Now I knew.

I was here to save this child.

Che mattered more than anything else, and Ilovedhim.

The pain in my arm was excruciating, but I kept going, though slower now. Every step was agony, and yet I pushed forward.

I stumbled a few times but refused to fall.

I was grateful Che was small enough for me to carry. Boot’s relentless training had given me the strength to endure this.

I couldn’t think about his sacrifice. Not now. Notever,because I would be dead soon. Strangely, I wasn’t afraid of anything but failing to get Che to safety.

The streets were dark, lit only by the pale glow of the stars and moon. IhopedI was heading in the right direction, though doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind.

Then, faintly, I heard voices.

“They’re over here!” someone shouted.

Relief surged through me, but my body couldn’t go forward. My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the ground. Che scrambled out of my arms as King’s voice cut through the night.

“Marinah?” he called, panic lacing his yell.

“Get Che,” I gasped. “There are hellhounds behind us. Boot is fighting them. You need to help him.”

The effort to speak drained me, and I curled into a ball, trying to will the pain away.

It wouldn’t be long now. I had done what I set out to do.

I had saved Che.

Relief mingled with the agony, and a strange peace settled over me.Me,the woman without a backbone, who shouldn’t have survived this long. I only regretted what King and I would never share.

At least I met him. At least I knew someone in this world might have fallen in love with me.

“You’ve been bitten,” King snarled, his voice trembling with fury and fear.

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask your permission,your majesty,” I gritted out through clenched teeth, the pain stealing my breath.

He scooped me into his arms as if I weighed nothing. His heat surrounded me, but the fire in my veins was unbearable.

“Che?” I whispered weakly, my voice barely audible.

“One of my men has him. The others are going back for Boot,” King replied.

I heard the emotion in his voice. He knew what I did.

This was our goodbye.

“Boot wanted his son to live,” I murmured, the words slurring as exhaustion took hold.

I could have fallen asleep there, in King’s arms, even with the searing pain. I saw the citadel lights flickering in the distance. So close now.

“I think I might love you,” I whispered against his shoulder, my vision dimming.

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