Page 117 of Shadow & Stars
A question came to me—one I hadn’t considered in my haste. “Can he survive with a demon heart?”
“If he lived all this time with that thing inside his chest, your heart will work just fine,” the doctor answered. “But it might change him.”
I stroked Roman’s hair. “Change him how?”
“Well, there’ll be a permanent piece of demon inside him. That’s a big change in itself.”
I kissed Roman again. “Whatever it takes.”
41
DARCY
Isat with Jaz after he finished the surgery, praying for the health of my bestie and his lover.
“Everything will be okay,” Jaz said. He sipped on a paper cup of water fresh from the cooler in reception.
I struggled to hold it together, my emotions a hot pot of anguish, hope, and outright terror.
“I promise, Darcy. That was one of the smoothest operations I’ve ever performed.”
“Really?”
“Yep. And that’s one strong heart I put in your friend.”
I used to love it when he reassured me. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Glad I did something right.”
Things could have been so different if he’d… It was too late now. We were never going back. I didn’t want him, but I did mourn those happy times. They would always be stored in a special corner of my heart.
“I’m sorry you ended up like this,” I said. “I’ll always care about you. More than you can imagine. But?—”
“Don’t say it,” he interrupted. “I can’t handle it.” He picked up one of the reception phones.
His sadness bumped against mine. “What are you doing?”
“Giving your friend the best care.”
After his call, he disappeared from my life forever.
42
ROMAN
Three down. Eight Across. Clue:To produce a desired or intended result.
“Efficacy,” I said, writing the other word in. “Bingo!”
“Congratulations,” Darcy said from his cage, nibbling on some roasted corn.
“Thanks.” I put the pencil down to take a sip of my chamomile tea.
“Well done, my beautiful witch,” Xavier contributed, entering the living room of my Soho flat.
The fact we were able to sit here blew my mind, as did the security presence downstairs. But nothing triggered the flood of awe like the real heart beating in my chest.
I was the lucky one. Queen Margarite’s heart failed her, dying a few hours after collapsing in the corridor under the destroyed palace.
