Page 214 of The Spider Queen
Finally, Hunter nodded and closed his eyes.
I turned to the mage. “Take what you need from me.”
The mage’s smile was slow and terrifying. “I’ve already taken everything I need.”
Chapter 40
I felt tendrils of magic swirl around me. The air crackled with energy, and my hair sprang from the sides of my head. Sweat broke out along my brow and upper lip.
The mage’s magic tentacles reached into my chest and pulled out a golden orb of light. It looked like a miniature sun with flickering rays.
There was a tiny red mark among the gold.
“That is your merrow,” the mage said. His voiced sounded like it came from all sides. It boomed with authority and power. “The red spot mars your immortal heart.”
“How?” I gasped. “My human heart was removed, thus removing Hunter from my heart.” I winced, hoping Hunter had passed out again, and he wasn’t hearing how I spoke of him.
“Your immortal heart has grown again. It regenerates. But your merrow wasn’t only lodged in your human heart, but your immortal heart too.”
“But I didn’t feel him after my heart was removed,” I protested.
“In a few days, you would’ve felt the red spot grow more prevalent until it had once again taken over half your heart. Only this time, it would’ve been your immortal heart.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you would’ve been divided, forever.”
The golden orb flared and then snuffed out. Once again I could see the mage, the room, Hunter on the ground. His eyes were watching me.
“That’s why you remember me.”
He nodded, his eyes solemn. “You torture me, Poppy. Your love for me is torture.”
I felt my heart convulse and rearrange, like a key fitting perfectly into a lock and the lid of a box snapping open. Out came my feelings, my love for him, the guilt I’d felt when I’d left him.
My tears fell down my cheeks and dribbled onto his body when I crouched down next to him. Hunter gritted his teeth as steam rose from his skin. My tears caused him pain. Literally.
“The battle between Heaven and Hell has begun,” the mage announced. “The gates of Heaven have been rammed open. Lucifer’s soldiers are wreaking havoc.”
“I’m too late,” I said, desolation encompassing me.
“No. It’s not too late. You will be able to stop the war, but only if you and Thane are reunited.”
“Thane is petrified. And probably at the bottom of the ocean.”
“I can restore him.” He paused. “For a price.”
Thane’s words came back to me—a warning. “Of course there’s a price.” My expression was flat. “Well?”
But the mage wasn’t the one who answered. “A life for a life,” Hunter said.
I looked at him, my cheeks stained with sadness. But Hunter didn’t look desolate. He looked at peace.
“Please, Poppy,” he begged. “Let me make this final sacrifice.”
“How can I let you do that?” I whispered.
“How can you not?” His smile was calm. “I am a Hunter, first and forever. I serve Thane. I serve you. Let me help save the world, even if I’ll never get to enjoy it.”
