Page 88 of Solivagant

Please. I closed my eyes and prayed to gods long abandoned. I prayed to the universe and the forces that had let us find each other across worlds. If you must take someone, take me instead. I won’t survive on my own again. Give him back to me, or let me go with him. Either way, let us be together at last. For I have already lost more than I can bear. Please.

“What are you thinking about, Tusks?”

A whisper. A tether of hope that roped around my heart and pulled.

My eyes opened to gold eyes staring back at me.

Jo’s soul was still fading. Slipping away somewhere I couldn’t reach it. But Jem’s wasn’t. He was burning up. The way a star burned before it was extinguished. No.

Jem. My Jem.

I whined. The gold pouring from my eyes doubled.

“Shhh. Shhh now. I don’t… have long.”

How? How was he here?

“I can’t… stay… anymore. I’m not strong enough, my love. But he could be, if I help him.”

My throat burned with all the words I couldn’t say, with all my apologies and everything I’d kept inside me these hundreds of years. They fell out of me in incoherent sounds of distress.

“Shhh. I know. I know.” A hand lifted, and cold fingers cupped my cheek. “You came back for me. I’m sorry it took me so long to do the same.”

I turned my cheek into his palm. Touch I’d craved for so long.

“I knew… I was running out of time. That’s why… I brought him to you.”

I could only respond with a whimper as my heart warmed and shattered at the same time.

“He’ll be good for you.”

You’re good for me.

“You have to let me go, my love.”

I shook my head frantically. His soul was burning away, all his remaining strength being used to possess Jo’s body. Please stop, please be safe. I just want you both to be safe.

“We had… such a beautiful time together. What happened… wasn’t your fault.” Gold bled from his eyes. “It’s very important that you know that. It wasn’t your fault. And… if I knew… this was how it would end… I’d have done it all the same. Thank you for loving me.”

A howl was building in my chest. Silenced by his fingers upon my lips.

“I know.” He nodded softly. His head rolled to the side, eyes taking in the body he’d left behind. “He was right, you know. I’m not there. Thank you for protecting me. It’s okay to stop now.”

I can’t.

His light flickered and fractured. “It’s time, my love. Our time. You have to let it go. Let me go. Move forward with him. Return to what you were. You can do that for me. Can’t you?”

I could only whine.

“Please. Please, I need to know you’ll be okay. Promise me you’ll move forward with him. Take him where I couldn’t go.” He smiled. “Let him see the sky. A color we’ve never seen. Right?”

His thumb wiped away my tears so I could see him clearly. I nodded.

“How wonderful. Stand with him in the light there. No more shadows for you. For either of you. Promise me.”

My chest and throat constricted. I nodded.

His smile widened. “Good. I have to go. I have to save him for you.”