Page 93 of The Heart of Winter

Regret hit me like a tidal wave.

Regret for everything I hadn’t done in my life.

Regret that I had never loved anyone outside of my family.

I saw my dad’s face in my mind. His love, his warmth. His words of goodbye.

"I love you, Winter. Always remember that!"

And I did. I remembered how, as a child, he would hold me on his lap, rock me in his arms, and sing me lullabies. His voice had been beautiful, a clear tenor.

The memories of his love surrounded me like a pink, sweet silk, and I was so grateful for the gift of his unconditional love.

The only regret I had was that I would never feel his love again, and… never be able to give mine to anyone.

I turned to Sariel.

Our life was about to end, in the most horrifying way.

The lights in the cabin were flickering wildly. His face had gone completely pale, his eyes wide. His hair whipped in all directions, caught in the monstrous wind howling through the ruptured cabin.

Strangely, he wasn’t screaming.

Maybe he understood, just as I did, that there was no point.

We were doomed.

Then, suddenly, he reached out and grabbed my hand in a quick, desperate motion.

And I was relieved because I didn’t want to die without feeling the closeness of another human being.

Because even if our relationship had no chance of becoming anything more, at least I wouldn’t die alone. And neither would he.

Through the chaos, we held each other’s gaze.

Then—

Another deafening crack.

The unmistakable sound of the fuselage breaking apart.

Or at least, that was my completely unqualified assessment of what was happening.

Fuck, I really should have listened to Snow…

Our entire row of seats snapped free, hurtling downward—

And the two of us, still strapped in, plunged into the pitch-black void.

The last thing I saw was a golden light, soft as a pillow, surrounding me.

And then—

Nothing.

PART TWO: THE ISLAND

LAKE

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