“That kind of power surge will draw attention.”
Aimee could see that the god no longer cared if he brought attention to himself from the other gods and goddesses of Olympus. All he wanted was to destroy Roric, no matter the cost.
A bolt of dark light flew from Hades’ fingertips, headed straight toward Roric. Aimee didn’t think, didn’t hesitate. She threw herself in front of the man she loved.
Pain seared through her as her body jerked as though suspended on live electrical wires. Every nerve in her body was on fire. She could smell the tips of her hair sizzling. She lost control of her muscles as they began to spasm and felt her body begin to fall. A tiger’s roar echoed in her ears, followed closely by a male cry of pure anguish.
Strong arms wrapped around her, catching her before she hit the hard ground. Roric. She’d know his touch, his earthy scent anywhere. “Don’t you die on me, Aimee. Do you hear me?” His voice was hoarse with pain, and she was shocked to see tears on his cheeks.
She tried to raise her hand to wipe them away, but it was no use. She didn’t have the strength to move them. Licking at her dry lips, she tried to speak. She had to tell him it wasn’t his fault. It was her choice. Already, she could see the blame and guilt in his eyes.
The world around her was fading rapidly. Her heartbeat was getting slower with each breath she took. Summoning the last of her reserves, she got out the words she’d longed to tell him. “Love you.” Those two words took almost everything out of her, but she wasn’t finished. Although it felt as though a two-ton truck was parked on her chest, she pushed on. “Not your fault. Die for you. You live.”
Hades let out a roar of fury, and the world around her started to spin. She closed her eyes, but she could see him in her mind’s eye. Light surrounded Roric, growing brighter with each passing second. It burst forth from within him, surrounding all of them and turning night into day. It was so bright it hurt her eyes even though they were closed.
The demons disintegrated instantly, turning to dust. Mordecai jumped away from the light, his arm shading his eyes. Hades caught him by the arm and dragged him through a black hole. It whirled around, growing smaller until it winked out of sight. She thought she saw Mordecai smiling at her as he disappeared.
Strong arms lifted her, crushing her against a muscled chest. Roric’s tears dripped down her face as his light surrounded her. In the distance, she swore she could hear a clock chiming twelve times.
Midnight. He was free.
It took a supreme effort, but she managed to get her eyes to open. Her eyelids fluttered as she focused on Roric. She let him see all the love she felt for him.
He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “You’ll be all right.” She wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince himself or her. “You have to be fine.” He continued to stroke her face and arms, trying to give her his warmth. “You can’t leave me, Aimee. You can’t. I need you.”
She held those words tight to her heart and sighed. Breathing was getting harder. The light was fading, being replaced by darkness. She didn’t fear the dark now, but welcomed it. Exhaustion pulled at her, tempting her to just give in to it and release the pain once and for all. She hurt so badly.
She didn’t dare look down at her chest to see the extent of the damage. It was enough to feel it. Blood seeped out of the wound and slid down her sides with each beat of her heart. It was only a matter of time now.
But it didn’t matter. Hades was defeated and Roric would live to fulfill his destiny. A wisp of pride filled her. They’d beaten the devil himself.
“I love you.” It sounded as though the words had been dragged from the depths of his soul. “I won’t let you die.”
His words gave her solace. She needed him to understand none of this was his fault. Giving her life for his was the right choice, the only choice she could have made. She tried to shake her head, but it was too heavy. Her limbs were heavy and cold.
She parted her lips but no sound emerged.
But Roric wasn’t listening to her anyway. He laid her down on the ground beside him and placed his hands over her heart. Blood covered his fingers.
She wanted him to look at her one more time, but he closed his eyes, his thick lashes brushing against his cheekbones. Darkness pulled at her. Time had run out.
Her heart slowed and her lungs refused to work. Aimee let out a final gasp. A rattle came from her throat instead of the words she wanted to say. Her eyelids closed as she breathed her last breath.
A jolt of energy rocketed through her. Her eyes flew open, and her entire body jerked as though it had been zapped with electricity. A golden light surrounded Roric’s hands. The light changed as she watched it flow into her, the color going from gold to purple and rose and every color in between. It swirled around her, circling her frame before entering her body.