Page 193 of Spoils of war
If it wasn’t Will—if it was someone else—I didn’t know what I would do. I didn’t know if I could stop him.
The doorknob turned.
I froze.
Every muscle in my body seized, readying for a fight I wasn’t sure I’d win. I’d thought I was fearless, but without my gift, I was nothing. Just a helpless little girl, to once again be crushed under the weight of evil.
How had I ever believed I was safe? That I was in control? I thought I’d beaten the worst of it. That I’d fought off the memory of Arche. Of the others. That the past had lost its grip on me. But it hadn’t. It came surging back like blood in my throat. Because the truth was still there, buried in my bones: Without my power, I wasn’t strong enough. I wasn’t stronger than a man. And I had walked into my own nightmare.
The door creaked open, and for a moment I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t move, didn’t breathe—just stared at him.
Will. My Will.
Before my brain could catch up, my body crashed into him. He caught me without hesitation, his arms locking around me so tight I thought I might shatter. I clung to him, burying myself in his chest, needing the feel of him, the warmth of him.
And then he kissed me.
Gods, hekissedme.
It hit like heat after frostbite—sharp and sudden and too much all at once. Hungry. Desperate. Alive. I kissed him back with everything I had, my fingers tangling in his hair, like if I held him tight enough, I could forget what almost happened. I thanked every god I’d ever cursed, even the cruel ones. Even the ones who wanted me dead. Because it was him. It was Will, and no one else.
“You came,” I whispered against his lips, the words shaking out of me like I barely believed them.
“You thought I wouldn’t?” His voice scraped its way out of his chest, like it hurt him to think I’d doubted him.
If only he knew how dark my mind had just gotten.
He kissed me again, softer—my lips, my cheeks, my forehead—little pecks stitching me back together.
I let him kiss away the dirt, the shame, the fear still clinging to my skin. I let him remind me that I was still there. Still breathing.
Still me.Kera.
For a brief moment, the room didn’t feel like a cage. It felt like a haven. The candles, the silk, the soft floral scent in the air. It was beautiful. Romantic, even. And with him here, I didn’t mind staying.
“I’m not leaving you,” he whispered, his breath brushing my cheek like a promise. “I’m here for as long as you’ll have me.”
“I’ll always need you,” I breathed.
He closed his eyes, forehead gently resting against mine, and for a moment, we just stayed there. Breathing the same air. Holding what was left of each other.
Then I let out a shaky laugh.
“So... only the easy part left, then.”
He pulled back just enough to look at me, confusion flickering in his eyes.
“Getting out of Hel,” I said.
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Licia was exactly where I had left her, curled on the small, battered mattress, her breathing shallow and slow. The lantern flickered weakly in the corner, throwing long shadows across the room, and for a moment, I just stood there.
It was too quiet. Too still.
My heart thudded painfully as I stepped closer and pressed a hand to her forehead.
Hot.
