NINETY-FOUR
CAZ
Danica is laid up in a tent that flickers with candlelight. Most of the day has passed, and she’s finally stable enough to speak.
She was carted away when she was sliced during the war. Mythics have been doing all they can to heal her, but nothing is working.
Just like Rowan, she was clawed by one of Selah’s poisonous creatures.
Willow walks in ahead of me, and I stop in the center of the tent, watching as my mate crouches next to Danica on the cot.
Danica wheezes, her face pale and her hands shaking. Her eyes crack open, shining beneath the flickering lights. When she sees Willow, a faint smile appears.
“Willow,” she whispers.
“Danica. Hi.” Willow clings to her hand and forces a smile at her. I know it’s forced because I feel her heartache. “You look like shit,” she laughs.
Danica laughs too, then winces. “Yeah. I feel it.”
Willow peers over her shoulder at me. “We can heal her, right?”
“I believe I can.” I scan Danica from head to toe. “But I don’t think healing is what she wants.”
“ What? ” Willow frowns, putting her attention on Danica again. Her eyes glow brighter than the candle flames as she sweeps her gaze up and down the length of her. “Danica.” Her voice is firm. “Let us heal you.”
Swallowing, Danica squeezes Willow’s hand. “I did my part, Willow.”
“No. You can still live,” Willow counters.
Danica winces before saying, “It’s not really living without him.”
Willow’s emotions wash over me like a hot flood. She sinks lower on her knees, batting her tears with steady blinks.
“Danica, please,” she pleads.
I look away as an ache forms in my chest. This one doesn’t come from my mate. It’s mine.
“There is nothing left for me here, Willow. My mate is gone and will never be reborn again. I’m no longer needed. And look at you,” Danica breathes, her teeth glistening as she smiles. “You’re full of magnificent power and hope. You’ll be okay, and that’s all Warren ever wanted for you.”
Willow takes Danica’s hand into both of hers, holding on tightly as a stream of tears skid down her cheeks.
“I was thinking about pouring Warren’s ashes in the ocean,” Willow says, sniffling. “That way he’s always drifting through Vakeeli. At least come with us to pour them,” she pleads.
Danica’s eyes light up just a bit. “That’s a good idea.”
Pleased, Willow pushes to a stand and moves back.
“All right. Up you get.” I pick Danica up carefully and carry her frail body out of the tent.
“I bet you’re loving this, aren’t you?” she asks, clinging to me with the little strength she has left. “Seeing me weak?”
“Not at all,” I chuckle. “I’d much rather put up with you using that katana to slice through my bullets than to see you like this.”
She offers a weak laugh.
“You sure you don’t want me to heal you?” I ask in a quiet voice.
She shakes her head. “I’ve already made up my mind.”
“Very well.” I’ll respect that.
I glance over my shoulder, watching Willow vanish. She’s gone for a split second before appearing at my side again with Warren’s gold urn cradled in her hands and a blanket hanging over her forearm.
The ocean roars as the sky darkens. There’s just enough light for us to see.
Willow spreads the blanket, and I lay Danica on top of it.
“Anything you want to say?” Willow asks her, sitting cross-legged at her side.
Danica is quiet a moment, staring at the ocean. A tear slips from the corner of her eye as she draws in a shaky breath and exhales the same.
“I just wish I’d told him one last time how amazing he was,” she murmurs. “And that every second without him is meaningless. That I love him so much, and if I ever get the chance to meet him in another life, I’ll hang on ten times as much.”
I blink, fighting my own damn tears.
“That’s beautiful,” Willow whispers. She raises her head, viewing the ocean too. “I’d tell him he’s the best brother ever. And that I miss every conversation we had.” Willow’s eyes glisten as she tears her eyes away from the water. “I’d tell him that losing him was one of the hardest things I’d ever endured, but finding him here made everything feel complete. I’d tell him I love him too. And that I’m glad he’s at rest now.”
Beautiful, my love.
Willow tilts her gaze to mine, a feeble smile gracing her lips.
“Ready?” she asks Danica, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
Danica nods, rubbing Willow’s knuckles with her thumb. “Ready.”
I walk over, helping Willow to a stand. She clutches the urn as we make our way to the shoreline.
She sniffles as she removes the lid of the urn. Her pain runs through me, tugging at every single heartstring. I remain strong for her, kissing her temple, whispering that it’ll be okay. That she can do this.
Finally, she walks ankle deep into the water, tilts the urn, and dumps Warren’s ashes. The gray dust swirls with the foam, slowly drifting away.
With a shuddering breath, Willow faces me, eyes filled with tears. Then she peers over my shoulder, and her mouth parts.
“Danica?” she breathes, sloshing through the water to run past me.
She drops to her knees next to Danica.
But Danica’s eyes are closing.
Her last breath slips out as a soft sigh.
“No,” Willow whimpers, dropping her head to Danica’s chest.
“Damn it,” I mutter.
Willow’s emotions nearly overpower mine, but I do my best to control them. It’s hard though. It seems now that we contain Regal energy, our Tether is stronger than ever. Our bond has amplified, so what she feels, I feel it just as much.
I drop to my knees next to her as she lifts her head and places a kiss on Danica’s cheek.
I lay a hand to Danica’s chest. Only a whisper of a heartbeat remains, and it’s fading quickly. Her memories flood through me just like Selah’s did.
Her bleak childhood. The grief of losing her mother and seeking vengeance by killing her father.
The happiness she felt when she met Warren. The laughs and giggles only he could conjure from her. The joy she had sparring and practicing with her beloved katana.
Her pain and heartbreak when she lost her mate.
Her final moments of satisfaction—of peace—as she watched Willow pour his ashes.
I press my lips, but that doesn’t stop my tears from falling. The ache in my chest has doubled. I take my hand away just as Willow draws in a deep breath.
“Come here,” I whisper to Willow, spreading my arms open for her.
She falls right into them, sobbing hard into my chest.
So much pain.
So much loss.
So much hurt.
I hold her tight, allowing her grief to course through me too.
Because I’ve got her. No matter what kind of struggle she faces, I’ll never let her go through any of it alone.