Page 209 of The Call of Crimson
Rowina’s scream slices through the tavern. I snap my head to her right as I see her punch a male in the jaw.
“We should go see?—”
Elijah groans, a sharp, broken sound, and collapses at my feet.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
AURELIUS
“Find Rowina,” I command Darian the moment I see Elijah drop to the floor. She’d been getting drinks when I heard her scream. Heaven knows why she punched the male, but he probably deserved it. Her grasp on her Gift must have slipped, letting Elijah’s pain return and overwhelm him.
In two strides, I’m at his side. Kneeling, I place a hand on his shoulder. Sweat clings to his brow, the color draining from his golden skin. I’d been carefully monitoring the poison’s progression all day, and it destroys me to say, “It’s time, my friend.”
Our group gathers around us, looks of confusion and sorrow lining every face.
“Time for what?” Ophelia asks.
“What’s going on?” Breyla asks next.
“I’m so sorry!” Rowina bursts between us, her hand flying to Elijah’s cheek. “I got distracted by the asshole at the bar, and my power slipped.”
A relieved sigh leaves Elijah as my sister’s Gift goes to work, blocking his pain once again. But it’s only able to do so much. I catch the way his breath catches when he moves too quickly, and the slow jerking foot steps he takes.
“How much time do I have left?” he asks.
“Left for what?” Breyla screams, panic filling her voice.
Ophelia’s tears spill over as recognition flashes across her face. She knows what Rowina’s Gift looks like. “You lied to me,” she whispers.
“I’m sorry, my love,” he says softly.
“When we were attacked on the way here…” Cillian mumbles, putting the pieces together.
Ophelia sucks in an unsteady breath. “The arrow you stopped from hitting me, it actually did cut you.” It’s not a question. It’s a realization.
“No.” Breyla shakes her head, clutching at her chest as ifshe’sthe one with poison running through her veins. Her lip trembles, moisture glistening in the corners of her emerald eyes.
“Can we continue this conversation outside?” Elijah asks gently. “I’d like to see the stars.”
We quickly gather our cloaks and step into the cold.
“How did you hide this from us all day?” Breyla demands, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Whywould you?”
Elijah looks to me for the answer I haven’t given yet. “You have maybe ten minutes left,” I say solemnly.
Choked sobs emanate from Breyla and Ophelia.
“In that case, they can explain it when I’m gone. I have things I need to say with the time I have.”
Elijah wraps his arms around Breyla’s trembling body, whispering, “I love you, B.”
“You fucking asshole,” she sobs, her legs shaking so violently she struggles to hold herself up. “You can’t die. I still need you.”
“I’ve tried to tell you in so many ways already, you don’t. You can and will do this without me.”
“I refuse to do this without you,” she stammers.
“Don’t you dare,” he warns, voice firm. “You will do great and wondrous things. Don’t you dare deprive the world of the impact you’re meant to have.”
