“You better know what you’re doing,” Morrigan said under her breath as she stepped past me. “I won’t be responsible for another incident.”
Just as I had requested, Bear initiated the stop on the door and stood in the hall on one side with my brother on the other. Bear peered into the room and gave me a nod, crossed his arms over his chest, and leaned against the wall, turning his attention to something in the hall.
I turned my gaze to Noah’s. He smiled at me and started to reach for me with his other hand but was stopped by the cuffs.
“Let me remove those for you.” I started to move to get the card, but Noah’s hand clamped tighter around mine. My gaze met his, and I searched his eyes.
“I think it’s best I stay this way, don’t you?” He patted the spot next to him and scooted over to give me room. I climbed on and nestled into his warmth. The comfort in the crook of his arm seemed like it was made just for me. He managed to lay a hand on my hip. I took in a deep breath of him.
“I don’t blame you for what happened, Noah. I understand it wasn’t you.”
“I want you to know something, just in case I don’t make it,” he said.
“Okay,” I said, my heart racing faster.
“There wasn’t a single day that went by when you were gone that I didn’t check up on you, didn’t stay nearby or know that you were okay. And not a single second went by that I didn’t regret my actions or wish we could’ve done something different.” He kissed my head, and his chest shuddered. “Elsa, living without you was the hardest thing to do. It’s torture worse than what I’m going through right now.”
I sat up and faced him. “Noah, you’re scaring me. What aren’t you saying to me?”
He averted his gaze, and a tear fell down his cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb. “I’m saying that even though I don’t think I could survive without you in my life, knowing that I made you leave your family and your career behind would be even more unbearable. I can’t ask you to do that. You have to stay here and help stop Alexander. Promise me you’ll do that.”
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t move or even form words. He wanted me to stay? How could he say that? Even if he didn’t make it, letting him leave without me wasn’t an option. I took in a deep breath and shook my head.
“Please, Elsa. You won’t be able to come back. You’d be forced to stay there, never able to return.”
“I don’t care!” My vision blurred as hot tears ran down my cheeks. “I’m not letting you go without me. I’m by your side no matter what.”
“And if I die? You’ll be forced to live there, alone. You won’t even be able to avenge me, like I know you would. I know you, Elsa. You can’t even stay on Tartarus without getting antsy. You need to stay here. Fight here. Win then join me.”
“Please don’t do this. Don’t ask me to stay,” I said softly, just above a whisper.
He slipped a hand to the back of my neck, sliding his fingers through my hair. “Remember our vows?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“No matter what happens, we are matched. Sum vestrum semper. Amor mea. Lumen cordis. Even though we will no longer be together, you’ll always be in my heart.” He brought me closer to him, his lips brushing against mine. I deepened the kiss, sliding my hands to the back of his head and clutching his long, dark, silky hair.
He stopped kissing me and whispered, “Elsa.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m slipping away …”
“What?” I pulled away to look at him. His pupils swallowed his irises and his skin paled to ash white.
“Remember what I asked you,” he whispered then his eyes rolled into the back of his head. His body went into convulsions.
I called for help. Bear came to my side as Justin led me to the hall. A page rang through Avalon for all medic personnel to report to Noah’s room immediately. I wanted to rush to Noah’s side, but Justin held me tight in his arms.
People ran in a blur into his room. Noah’s energy kept faltering, and my heart threatened to stop beating each time. When his energy faded, I wailed. Pushing myself from my brother’s arms, I ran down the hall and out of Avalon’s walls. The ground was covered in snow.
Noah loved the snow …
Overcome with grief, I ran more. I ran until my legs gave out and my lungs were close to bursting and fell to the snow-covered ground, exhausted and out of breath, and let myself cry. For the very last time, I cried.
COMING SUMMER 2015
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Kansas native, Samantha LaFantasie spends her free time with her spouse and three kids. Writing has always been a passion of hers, forgoing all other desires to devote to this one obsession, even though she often finds herself arguing with her characters through much of the process. She’s primarily a fantasy writer but often feels pulled to genres such as sci-fi, romance, and others.
Among her writing credentials, she has authored works such as Heart Song (her debut novel) and Made to Forget.
Samantha loves to take time to enjoy other activities such as photography and playing her favorite game of all time, Guild Wars 2.
Want more from Samantha? Keep up with her at any of her digital hangouts.
Goodreads
Facebook Fan Page
Author Central
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest
Echoes of Memories (Nepherium Novella Series Book 2) Page 12