Chapter Forty-Two

With a strange sense of time repeating, I stared up into Lord Vexen's face as he carried me out of the arrival chamber. Once more, I cried and begged him to help me, to take me back to the Corrupter's fortress. Back to the man I loved. To help me free him from Death.

"I'm so sorry, Ember," Vexen said, bending his head to press his forehead to mine. "So sorry. I wanted you to be happy."

"No," I sobbed. "No. He was safe. He was free. It was only a day!" I screamed and pounded on Vexen's chest. "Only one fucking day!"

"Here, give him to me," Xaedren said.

Lord Vexen hissed. He hissed at my lover.

It was odd enough to break through my pain and horror. I sniffed and stared at Vexen, taking in the hard set to his face, his glowing eyes, and the way he clutched me.

"Oh, Goddess," I whispered.

Vexen shifted his stare back to me, instantly softening. "I've got you, Ember. You go ahead and rage. Let out your pain. I will take it from you."

"It's you," I said, my body going limp. It was at the point of shutting down, so drained and full of sorrow that it couldn't function.

"You finally see me."

"I've always seen you."

"What the fuck is happening right now?" Keltyr demanded.

"I don't know, but I don't like it," Xaedren growled.

"You will release our mate this instant, Lord Vexen," Taroc said.

"He's calming Ember," Rath snapped. "That's all that matters.

Vexen cupped my cheek. "No, you haven't. Not the way you're seeing me now."

"I can't do this right now, Vexen. Ara . . ."

"I know. It's enough that you found me. Rest now, Ember. It will be all right. I swear it."

As if my body was waiting for someone to say those very words, it shut down, taking my mind with it.