Page 175 of Fallen Nocturne

“It’s fine. Let me help him,” he tells me quietly.

“But I could lose you too,” I mutter.

“You won’t,” he promises.

I remember every promise he has ever made me. Rainer does not break promises.

He kneels on Arescaine’s other side, and his hands begin to glow.

The soft golden light of the blessing washes over Arescaine’s still form. It slides off him with nowhere to go. There is nothing to heal.

Because he’s not alive to receive it.

“No,” I whisper.

Heavy, uneven footsteps cross the broken floor behind us. Each one is followed by the scrape of a boot and a strained breath.

I look up to see Landon approaching. He’s barely standing with one arm missing, his body covered in wounds and blood.

Landon collapses beside me and presses his remaining hand to Arescaine’s chest. Light flares. Different from Rainer’s. This is Fae healing magic.

I watch with desperate hope as the green light surrounds Arescaine. It sinks into him, searching for something, anything.

It finds nothing.

What lies before us is just a body with no spark and no soul.

An empty shell with no life.

Landon’s hand falls away and the light dies.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, and he won’t meet my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Rhianelle. He’s gone.”

“No.” I shake my head. “No, you’re wrong. He needs time—”

A small gasp interrupts me.

I look up through tears to see Blight standing a few feet away. The little goddess is watching me with her head tilted.

“You really do love him,” she observes.

“Yes,” I say, and the word comes out certain. “Yes, I love him—”

I stop. I realize what I’ve just said. Who I’ve said it in front of.

Landon.

My mate.

I turn to look at him, expecting anger, hurt, and betrayal.

But there is only resignation on his face.

“Landon, I—”

“It’s all right,” he says softly. “I understand—”

“It’s not all right. You’re so much better!” Blight chimes in, skipping closer. “Landon is wonderful! He’s brave and strong and handsome! You are so alike. You share the same wounded past and survived things that should have broken you. And he has a spider friend, just like you do! You two would be perfect together!”