Epilogue
Unsent correspondence, translated to English, and addressed only to my truth:
I tried to fight it. Tried to be creative, like I always told you to be, but in the end his hold was too strong. I broke your heart on the chance that I would find a way to kill the unkillable angel.
MALACH
I wall off the pain and picture Celine’s face.
In my mind there are no chains, no welts on my back, and no magical burns covering every inch of skin. There’s only Celine when she said her betrothal vows. Celine when she kissed me for the first time. And Celine when she put her freedom on the line to protect me.
“You’re a fool, Malach,” S’lach says. “You always have been, but especially now. Chasing my disloyal daughter halfway around the universe because of vows she never meant. Are there no limits to the depths you’ll stoop to?”
I hold my tongue.
I can’t answer anyway.
S’lach has reactivated his rune. The festering brand of silence is his way of controlling me, no matter the distance. Ironically, now that I’m within his reach again, the only thing that doesn’t hurt is my head—the excruciating punishment for fighting his control.
I could enjoy it more if I wasn’t bleeding from dozens of injuries.
“Do you know why I called you back?” S’lach asks.
He’s pacing the length of my cell. His red hair stands out against the white walls and silver chains that bind me, and clashes violently with the blood trickling toward the drain. Whenever S’lach isn’t giving a monologue about his grand plans, the drips are all I hear.
It’s enough to drive me mad.
“I didn’t bring you here to punish you, Malach.”
I lift my head, hoping it’s enough to communicate exactly what I think about that statement.
I’ve been beaten once an hour since he locked me up.
Sliced, bruised, and humiliated. The bright lights that frame every angle and intersection in the room are another torment.
They never turn off, searing my retinas even when my eyes are squeezed shut.
S’lach smiles, malicious to a fault. He thinks he’s winning.
His wings are dull and dingy. When Celine and I were children, they were as white as hers, but they’ve been stained by his choices. It’s the only explanation I can think of—because no matter what he claims, violating radiant magic comes with a price.
“I brought you here as bait,” S’lach says gleefully. “I wanted to end things in the monster realm, but I can be patient. She should die here, anyway. All I have to do is wait.”
I frown. How can he believe Celine will come for me after seeing his rune carved into my flesh? She saw the mark, and I sold the lie. Even though it killed me, I would do it a million times to keep her safe.
She won’t forgive me, and that’s fine.
After having so many choices taken from me, I made this one for myself—a lesson I learned during my time in the Fringes and the monster realm.
I once thought my purpose was to be by Celine’s side forever, but now I know better. I’ll honor my vows to her by enduring everything he throws at me, no matter the cost. And when I get an opening, I’ll strike him down and end this.
I’m Malach of the nish thatsha—the angel of judgment—and I’m going to kill S’lach or die trying.