Page 24 of Saved By the Headless Horseman
I swallow thickly, lifting the blade.His green flames hypnotize me.
“If you won’t believe me—if I’ve truly lost you to your hatred—then there is no reason for me to linger in this world.”
The blade kisses my throat.A trail of warm blood slips from the small knick.I feel the crimson liquid collect along my throat.I suck in one final breath.Memories of my past unravel before me.Each one is beautiful and more bittersweet than the last.Krane is there in all of them, just as he is now, only without the distrust in his eyes.
“Scarlett,” he warns, stepping towards me.
I cannot waver.The look in his eyes resigns me to my fate.I try to smile, but the muscles don’t work like they should.I haven’t used them in a month after all.
“I love you, Krane.”
He snarls, stepping closer, but I will not be deterred.
“I love you even if you hate me—my sun.I’d never betray you.I can only pray that my death will prove that to you.”
Tears blur my vision, and my hand locks around the hilt of the dagger.Flames pour from Krane’s pumpkin—thicker than I’ve ever seen.He is a glorious creature.I’ll tuck the memory of him in this form away with me into whatever world exists beyond this one.
With a steadying breath, the blade presses deeper against me.Before I can make another move, there is the sound of glass shattering, and the whole room erupts in green fire.
13
SCARLETT
Green flames are everywhere.
They lick along the walls of the dungeon and spread along the stone floor.The bars of the cells melt into silver puddles.The temperature reaches an inferno.Sweat beads along my brow.The pumpkin atop Krane’s shoulder is no more.
In its place is a skull made entirely of green flames.In an instant, he is across the room, wrenching the knife from my hand and tossing it aside.His flames brush up against me but do not singe my skin.Strong arms wrap around me, and I’m crushed against his powerful chest.
The faint scent of cinnamon nearly sends me to my knees.
His face is solid.Each flame flickers with bewilderment.His eyes are burning with intensity—a madness lurking in their depths.A tremble goes through Krane’s body and into mine.I hold tight to him.His warmth soothes the remaining rigidity in my muscles.
“Why would you do that, Scarlett?Why?”
Krane’s words are hushed, barely more than a low growl.Tears spill down my cheeks as he pulls me even tighter against him.I feel the hard contours of his body.While he may no longer look like the man I loved, there is no mistaking him.His heart beat pounds in time with my own.The familiar graze of his soul against mine is all I need.
His hands continue their journey over my body.Each harsh touch sends a fire through me.I lean into his body—his hands—willing him to keep touching me and to never stop.Despair flickers in his eyes as he takes a deep breath.
“Have you hurt yourself before?”he whispers.
Tears tumble down my cheeks as I nod.
“After I found you like that…” I swallow soundly, trying to erase the awful memory.“Many times after that day, I tried.I didn’t eat—I couldn’t.”
A shuddering breath rattles his chest.His eyes are still guarded despite the gentle roaming of his hands.Their exploration continues even as I see conflicting emotions war on his face.The flames dance back and forth, twining together to create a look of apprehension and longing.A beautiful maelstrom of loss and longing.
“I don’t know what to think,” he admits.My breath catches in my throat.“I was so certain of your betrayal.Cursed because of it.After reading that letter, my soul could not find peace.It demanded revenge, and thus my anger forged into this infernal form.”
He huffs a humorless laugh.Flames slip from between his lips and ghost over my cheeks.
“I thought that if you confessed and paid for your treachery with your life, I would be returned to my normal body.”Krane shakes his head.“At the very least, be allowed to die.”
His confession causes my blood to run cold.
“You were going to kill me?”
I shouldn’t be surprised, but I can’t help it.The idea of my Krane doing such a thing shatters my already fragile heart.The organ has been broken and repaired so many times that I wouldn’t be surprised if it gave out.
