37. Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Reckless actions are usually a bad idea.

“Sunshine,” I said, forcing a smile to my lips. “You’re awake? You should eat. You didn’t have dinner last night. Eating is super important. Maybe some water too. Or a shower. Did you want to take another shower? I’ll make it worth your time.”

“You’re fading, and you weren’t going to say anything to me?” he asked.

Yeah, he was not going to be distracted. “I wanted to spend as much time as I can by your side without tainting it.”

He crossed the space between us, breathing hard and tail lashing. “I cannot and will not live without you.”

“You don’t have a choice.” Even if I let go of him and passed on, Fyn was going to have to live his life without me. My time, no matter what I did, was finite—like anyone.

“I do.” He strode to the door in nothing but his loose trousers. “Caleb, come on.”

I followed, sparing a glance at Edith. “Where’s Kal and Mindy?”

“In space. Hallonixmin and Gilvaxtin are with their royal majesties meeting the Coalition representatives.”

There was no one.

I chased after Fyn as he raced down the hall. “Stop! Where are you going?”

“Come on, Mate,” he ordered.

We wound through the palace, not seeing anyone. When he stepped outside, barefoot, he turned to the glass building I'd entered when I first came.

“Where are you going?”

Fyn didn’t respond and charged toward the towering structure.

A hulking form appeared in front of him. Monty’s hair was ruffled and his clothes were haphazardly yanked on. He was the one family member who was here and available. Edith must have gotten him.

Monty planted a palm in the middle of Fyn’s chest. “I know what you’re intending. Don’t do this. It will cause you great agony. I know this, Bloom.”

“Well, I don’t know what he’s planning,” I shouted uselessly.

“Caleb is my mate. I will not spend my life and afterlife without him,” Fyn yelled, slapping Monty away. He stalked to the glass wall, which opened seamlessly, and strode in, leaving me to follow him.

The early morning sunlight streamed through the cathedral ceilings. Plants covered every inch of the building, but the glowing Crystal in the center pulled all my focus.

Monty swiveled in front of Fyn. “You need to stop. Please. I beg you.”

“He is my mate. I will be bound in life and death to him.”

“Who defiles the Grand Sanctuary?” a resounding voice demanded.

Monty shifted to the older drakcol. Fyn did not waste a single moment and dashed to the throbbing Crystal. When I was here before the rock appeared harmless, but I was getting some seriously bad vibes from the thing. Like a supervillain, destroy the world vibes.

“Sunshine, I don’t know if we should do this,” I said. Whatever this was.

He placed his hand on the Crystal; it began to throb faster and faster. The priestess and Monty gaped at him.

“Prince Zoltilvoxfyn, step away. Now,” she ordered.

“Please,” Monty begged. “You don’t understand, Bloom. Do not do this.”

“Caleb, do it now.”

I slowly approached, glancing at Monty, who kept pleading for Fyn to step away. “We shouldn’t do this.”

“Touch the Crystal,” he shouted, his voice breaking. “I can’t lose you. I won’t.”

“Fyn.” I glanced at the throbbing Crystal, then Monty and the priestess who ordered him to move away. “This isn’t right.”

“Touch it. Now,” he snapped, eyes glassy. “The Crystal shall connect us as mates, binding us together forever.”

“Don’t, Caleb,” Monty said, not looking even close to where I stood. “Don’t touch the Crystal.”

“I already tried this, Sunshine,” I said. “I touched it when I first came. Nothing happened.”

He shook his head. “Please. I need you to try. I need you.”

“Nothing will happen. You need to accept that I'm going to disappear.”

“No. No!”

I placed a hand on the Crystal to prove my point, and it vibrated beneath my palm, alive and angry. My eyes fluttered closed of their own volition. Hundreds of voices reverberated in my mind. Why do you try to reaffirm what has not been forged? We sent you on the path, Caleb, seeker, wanderer, most faithful soul. Yet you chose to not forge what we set in motion?

A scream ripped through the air, and my eyes shot open in time to see Fyn crash to the ground some distance away. He grunted, trying to move.

“Sunshine!” I tried to run to his side, but I remained frozen to the Crystal. I yanked, but it was like my fingers were glued to the smooth surface. A burning began and grew stronger and stronger.

“Ah,” I yelped, tugging on my arm. “I’m stuck.”

“Caleb,” Fyn called.

If you will not tread the path we have set you upon, we shall force you to the conclusion.

I was on fire. Every nerve ending that I’d lost when I died screamed in agony. I thought I knew pain from the weak throbs of my soul, but this was nothing compared to that. A shriek tore out of my throat. I tried to escape but the Crystal would not let me go. Light flooded my soul as I expanded outward.

“Caleb,” Fyn shouted, crawling toward me.

Agony of the like I’d never thought possible consumed me before blessed oblivion took its place.

Zoltilvoxfyn

Caleb’s agonized cry rang in my ears as light blinded me. “Caleb!” I dragged myself over the mossy ground. I needed to be near him. “Please,” I begged the Crystal. “Don’t take him.”

His pain-filled eyes met mine before the light swelled and his scream vanished, along with my Caleb.

My soul froze. “Caleb!” He was gone. He was gone, and it was my fault.

“No!” I fisted my hair and called his name over and over again. I tried to claw over to where Caleb had once stood, but Monqilcolnen’s arms surrounded me, holding me back.

My very cells fought against what I’d seen. Caleb couldn’t be gone. No. No. No. He had to be there. He had to be. No. No. Please. Please, no.

“Caleb, please,” I cried, but no matter how much I called, he did not answer.