Chapter 12
Adela
“No, no,” I said as I’m jumping back and forth between books. “Don’t leave yet. I’ve almost figured it out.”
“Adela,” he chided, “you have to accept this.”
“I will not.”
He let out a tired sigh. He wanted to stay with me. I knew it, and I was going to figure out how to keep him there.
“Your runes on your side are ancient, yes,” I explained as I flipped through a very old, very delicate tome. “I didn’t know what they meant originally and how they worked but… I think.. I think I can fix this.”
“You can’t fix this. My life force, these enchanted runes are attached directly to the leylines that run under Everlyn. Which is why I need to go back to the park.”
“You’re not going back to the park,” I said, not even looking at him as I scribbled down a few more notes.
“Adela…”
I didn’t say anything else as I wrote with frantic movements. Picking up a chisel, I walked toward a larger gargoyle that I had been working on before I even met him. He wasn’t as large or as handsome as Korvex but he would do.
I pointed up at the statue. “We’re putting your runes on this guy.”
“It won’t work. The magic needs my eternal life to flow through. You can’t just put the runes on and think the ward will initiate.”
“First off,” I pointed my chisel at him, “how do you know all this now and didn’t tell me earlier?”
He went to say something but I cut him off.
“Secondly, I know that. Which is why we’re taking your eternal life.”
His eyebrows shot up. I sheepishly looked back at him, admitting to what I was doing.
“Okay, I should ask you first. I’m sorry.” Taking a deep breath, I said, “I think I can use your immortality, infusing it into the statue, to keep the runes working.”
“My immortality? Does that mean I will die? I thought you wanted me alive?”
“I do! I do.” Rubbing my face, I tried to think about how to word it. “If I do this right, you’ll end up with a normal lifespan. One like mine.”
Korvex was silent, his eyes searching me, pondering. I waited for him to say something, anything, but he kept silent.
I opened my mouth to try to say more and he shook his head at me.
Taking a deep breath he said, “So if this works, I would life as long as you… with you?”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, he said, “Okay. As long as the town will be protected and I get to live the rest of my life with you.”
A smile beamed across my face. Stepping on my toes, I leaned up and kissed him. This would work. It had to work. This was the only way I could keep him.
With shaky hands, I carved the runes into the statue as careful as I could. Making Korvex pose next to it, I tried my best to create a perfect replica. Running inside, I found enchantment dust. I quickly made warding runes for the ritual on the ground between the two of them.
This had to go right. If it didn’t, if I messed anything up with his immortality, it could kill him outright. I would lose my true love and the town would lose its protector.
My jaw jittered as I tried to keep myself together. Taking a centering breath, I asked, “Are you ready?”
He gave me a firm nod and said, “Adela, if this doesn’t work. If something happens. I want to say thank you for everything and…”
“… and?”
“And I love you.”
My nerves eased in my shoulders. “I love you too, Korvex.”