Vikki

Iabsolutely should not be driving, given I can hardly see straight. As for driving this vast vehicle, the only good thing is if I hit anything, it will probably come off worse than the Hummer.

Whatever time it is, the traffic is light enough I can barrel my way down the streets, heading for Max's apartment.

"Vee," Max says over the noise of the engine.

"Olly," I reply, risking a glance at him.

His face is filled with anguish. "He was discharged from the hospital today. We have to get to him."

"Hospital? Why?"

"Because we lost you, Vee. Basilisks have second sight, only they are unable to act upon it. When it affects them, they can fade away to nothing. He did it when he knew his daughter was going to die. And he did it because he thought we were going to lose you."

My eyes fill with tears, and I scrub at them with the back of my hand as the loss of vision is not something I can afford at my current speed.

"I'm sorry, Max. He took me and I couldn't tell you."

"He. Did. What?" Max grinds out.

"Vulzal. He kidnapped me that day at my cottage, after he told me about the bet."

Max goes quiet.

"He told you about that," he says in a voice which I almost can't hear.

"So it's true? You did bet on whether I'd stay with you or not?" I swing the huge vehicle around a corner and feel the wheels lock as it skids sideways. "What am I supposed to believe, Max? Was any of what we had real?"

I regain control and put my foot down hard on the accelerator to make up the precious seconds I've lost.

"Every single part of it was real, Vee," Max says, anguish filling his voice. "I never meant to make the bet with Vulzal, and the second I did it, I wished I had not."

"Then why?"

"Because I knew you were mine from the first moment I saw you, and I would do everything I could to ensure you stayed with me forever."

I fling the Hummer around another corner, and Max's apartment building comes into view. Smoke is billowing from it, and I can hear sirens. I increase our speed again, hurtling down the streets until finally, finally, we reach it.

"Vee." Max grabs my hand as I open the door. "I love you. I never meant to hurt you."

"You didn't. Vulzal did," I reply. "He used me to get to you, and regardless of the stupid bet, I can't forgive myself for that."

"You don't need to. It's on me. It's all on me." Max's eyes are the brightest I've ever seen them. "I can't live without you, Vee. Please, will you marry me?"

The scent of burning fills the car.

"We have to get to Olly." I pull my hand from his grasp and jump out of the Hummer. "We have to get to him."

I race around the car, but my legs do not want to work and it's like wading through treacle. My vision rainbows as two Maxes head in my direction.

"Little Vee?" he queries.

"Olly," I moan.

"It's going to be okay, my mate," he croons, and I see orcs in military uniforms racing past us, multiple orcs, at least I think there are multiple ones, as I'm struggling to see only one troll. "We'll make sure Olly is safe, I promise."

"No." I struggle weakly.

"Yes." Max cradles me oh-so-gently. "You've done what you can. Trust me."

My body seems to release all the adrenaline, all the energy I was able to muster. It's draining away the harder I attempt to hold onto it.

"Trust me," he says, his voice hollow as he flies away from me, the dark hole I'm dropping into engulfing him.

"Save Olly," I gasp.

"I will, for you."