Page 92 of Realm of the Wicked

‘I owe you a debt. That’s all this is. Don’t waste this chance though, okay? And for fuck’s sake, Bambi, be safe. I won’t be around to save your ass any more.’

The tears gathering in her eyes spilled over. Around us, the Council members mumbled their assent.

‘Very well. Damien, step forward.’

I clutched Stella’s hand, stepping backward. ‘I love you. Forever. Every universe. Every eventuality. It will always be you.’ I didn’t bother turning around to look at Clarissa. I could feel her reaching out for my soul.

But my fate had always been with Stella. I was happy. At peace. I smiled at Stella and as I felt my soul crumble to pieces, all I could see was the most beautiful shade of yellow.

35

STELLA

Even as he fell into my arms, Damien had a smile on his face. I tried to stop him from hitting the floor, and he landed with his head in my lap. His breathing was shallow, but he was still breathing.

‘What did you do?’ I cried, clutching at his limp body.

‘I destroyed his soul. Or whatever was left of it after so many years.’ Clarissa gave me a dispassionate look. ‘You should be grateful. You’re free to go now.’

‘You can’t just do this!’ I shook Damien’s shoulders. ‘Stay with me. I’ll figure this out. I promise!’

‘Yes, very heartwarming, I can almost feel my soul growing back.’ Clarissa smirked, and the Council laughed. ‘You can go now. Take your soul and leave.’

‘I’m not leaving until you fix him!’

‘Not my problem. Enjoy your life. Maybe it’ll sting less in a decade or two.’ With a snap of her fingers, Damien and I landed in the middle of his ruined office. Bookcases upended, papers were everywhere, and nothing was comparable to the destroyed state of my heart.

In my lap, Damien was still breathing, but it was quiet and slow. Dust trickled down from the ceiling. My tears dripped onto his face. Slowly, he rubbed his thumb along my hand. ‘Don’t cry for me. I’m not sad,’ he whispered.

I sobbed harder. ‘You can’t leave now, not when I just found you!’

He smiled weakly at me, lifting his hand to wipe away a tear from my cheek. ‘It’s been a lifetime for me, Bambi.’

‘That’s not fair!’ I cried. More dust rained down on us, leaving Damien’s sweater looking like it was covered in snow. A loud crack splintered behind us.

‘I know, sweet girl, I know.’ He dropped his hand, pointing toward a tall cabinet behind his desk. ‘Your yellow sweater is in there. It probably smells more like me than you now, but I thought you might like it back. Get Archie. Go home to Grace. Live your life. I promise I’m happy.’

I couldn’t figure out how any of this was fair. I’d lost so much. I’d only just found Damien, only just realized what it meant to find your other half, and now he was being ripped away from me. We should’ve had forever, and then some. I wanted to hear him laugh again. I wanted to watch him pretend to hate Archie, only to find the cat curled up on his lap in the library.

I wanted to know everything was about him, good, bad, and the in-between. He’d given up so much for so many people, and never thought twice about the consequences. ‘I can’t do this without you!’

I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs, my breath coming shorter and harder.

‘D, is that you?’ Agatha opened the study door, her eyes landing on me. ‘Oh, shit, what happened?’

I clung to Damien’s hand, crying. ‘He gave up his soul for me!’

Agatha rushed over, dropping to her knees and pressing her fingers against his neck. ‘Oh D, you sweet, stupid man.’

She sat back on her heels, quiet for a moment, and locked eyes with me. ‘If I told you there was a way to save him, would you do it?’

The cracking sound grew louder, multiplying.

I froze, not daring to get my hopes up. Not yet. ‘Of course.’

‘You can share your soul with him.’

‘How… how? How would that even work? How do you even know that?’ I looked hopelessly at Agatha, the pieces falling into place at her determined face. Everything she seemed to know and understand without me ever telling her. The way she seemed to know what Damien needed before he said a word. How she was always around when he happened to need her. She watched the realization hit me, and gave a quick nod. ‘You’re not human, are you?’