Page 207 of The Spider Queen
“Wow.”
The flickering silver light was mesmerizing.
“Poppy, wait a second.” Thane turned to me and cradled my cheeks in his palms. “I don’t know what will happen when I touch that door. And I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to say this, so let me say it now.”
My hands went to his wrists. “Don’t. Please. Whatever it is. If you say it, it will sound like a goodbye and I can’t—”
His mouth covered mine. Thane’s lips tasted sweet, and they were firm, uncompromising.
I held onto him, needing more, needing him.
Thane ripped his mouth from mine. “I love you, Poppy. That’s all I was going to say.”
“I love you, too.”
His lips curled up in a grin. “I distinctly remember you saying that you would never love me.”
My smile mirrored his. “Shut up, Thane.”
He kissed me briefly one last time, and then he let me go. Thane rushed to the door in the trunk and touched his hand to the bark. The tree screeched and the door opened, like someone had punched through the wood, and it was now nothing but a swirling cloud of silver light.
Thane looked at me over his shoulder, his eyes mournful. “I’m sorry.”
A streak of white light blasted through the silvery cloud and hit Thane in the chest. The force of it propelled him backward. He hit the ground hard—hard enough that I could hear bones snapping—and then he didn’t move.
I ran to his side and crouched down. He was on his back; his eyes were open, and so was his mouth, in a state of surprise.
My hand skated over his body. He was hard to the touch. Pulsing black veins crawled up his neck, turning his golden skin dark like a shadow was radiating from inside him. Every inch of him that wasn’t covered in clothing turned black. His skin looked like the bark of the barren tree.
I’ve been petrified.
Did you know? What was going to happen when we opened the door in the tree?
Yes. This is Xan’s work.
Why didn’t you let me take the magic blast? Why did you step in front of me?
You chose me. That moment on the altar. Even though you believed I’d never die for you, never sacrifice myself for you.
So you did this to set my mind at ease?
I did this so you have a chance at succeeding. It was always supposed to be you, Poppy. You’re the key. You’re the one in the prophecy who is supposed to stop the war.
How am I supposed to do this without you?
You must.
Will you be like this…forever?
He paused.There’s always a price. You will just have to decide if it’s worth it.
Price? What price?
But Thane didn’t say anymore.
I felt his hair. Hard. I placed my lips on his. Cold. Tears gathered in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. I didn’t bother trying to stop them.
The stagnant air began to stir. Wind rushed at my face, drying my tears. My hat blew off and soared up into the sky like it had been caught in a tornado. It disappeared from my sight. My braid whipped against my neck, lashing my skin. I kept my hand on Thane’s chest as I watched water pour from the opening in the tree. Big cascading waves that covered the stone ground.
