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Naia was stunned, unable to comprehend the envy devouring Marina’s tear-filled eyes.
“He loved you.” She wasn’t sure what made her say it. After everything Marina had done, Naia did not owe her anything. But she recognized the dissonance, the longing for an affection out of reach. Naia had been too blind to ever understand it was regarding their father.
Marina’s breath hitched, momentarily releasing her hold on Naia’s throat.
“Wren!” Naia called out.
Marina’s eyes grew round.
The hairpin came to life in Akane’s pocket and bolted through the ice and into the air like an arrow, straight through the back of Marina’s ribcage.
Marina recoiled her arm and stumbled back, gurgling as blood crammed up her esophagus. She clutched her chest, at the stiff fabric of her bodysuit. Long dribbles of scarlet spit leaked from her lips. Her arms flopped down to her sides, weakened by the dried remnants of Ronin’s blood still on the pin. She went to speak, but her jaw went slack. And then, she fell to the ground.
Naia bounded over her sister to get to Ronin.
The nightrazers melted away amidst the grim aura. Avi’s motionless hands were dyed a deep cranberry red as he stared blankly into the distance. Down on his knees, still at Ronin’s side, frozen.
“I don’t understand why my potion isn’t working on him,” he murmured in a manic, hushed tone. “It should work. Why isn’t it working?”
“Dammit, Ronin!” Tears stained Yuki’s cheeks. Both of her hands were joined on his chest, pumping aggressively over his heart. “Don’t you fucking do this! Do you hear me? I promised them I’d keep you alive! Don’t. You. Fucking. Make. Me. A. Liar.”
The ice dome was a puddle surrounding Akane, holding Ash against her chest, her face buried in his blanket, both crying.
Naia’s body felt paralyzed as she stood over Ronin. Theon filled the space beside her, his long sleeves tattered, his mask torn in places, staring down mournfully at Ronin.
Ronin’s fair skin was the color of blue coral. His eyes were closed.
Naia’s vision tunneled. Everything she’d done to prevent his death, on top of the glorious sacrifice Finnian made to trade places with her, was all for nothing.
Life was cruel. Hopeless. Full of anguish. The bleak heaviness Naia had run from her whole life settled in her bones yet again. It was too much to bear this time.
Not once had she ever considered turning to the hatred in the deepest corners of herself, but as she kneeled and clasped Ronin’s icy hand, one consuming thought chilled her soul.
I want to kill them all.
Ronin had said the same to her without remorse. For the way the gods had treated her. She did not understand the full extent of his malice then. But now? She had every urge to stomp across the clearing and rip Marina’s heart out. Drop beneath the sea and wreak havoc on Mira’s kingdom. Rightfully wrong all of those who had pushed her to live up to this moment of despair.
Yuki let out a strangled cry and dropped her forehead down to Ronin’s bloodied chest. “Goddammit Ronin!”
Naia brought her quivering lips to Ronin’s knuckles. Beads of her tears rolled down the tendons of the back of his hand.
You can’t leave me.
How could she raise her son without him? Having experienced his love twice in her lifetime, she couldn’t imagine her world without him. To lay in bed alone after so many nights with him beside her. Without the sound of his voice. His presence behind her, always looking out for her. His love. She couldn’t do it?—
Oh gods, she needed him?—
She squeezed Ronin’s hand and raised her head skyward. “Take my life!” she snarled—spit and tears flew from her mouth. “Don’t you dare take him again! I have lived through countless lifetimes! Let me be done! Give my life to him!”
Her fury grew and grew until it felt as if it had turned her into a beast. She wouldn’t stop until she was heard. “High Goddess of Fate! Give him my?—”
Ronin’s fingers twitched around her hand.
Naia gasped, and she dropped her head to look at him.
His eyes were on her, dark and crisp—alive.
“I am not…” His voice strained as his other hand fell onto the back of Yuki’s head. “Going anywhere.”
