Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(64)
“You will live because everyone needs you. Ryder needs you and so will your court. You’re going to be an excellent queen. I just wish I could see it. Oh yeah, and tell Ryder ‘you’re welcome’ for me protecting him with my body.”
I burst out crying and lay my forehead against his. Even in death he could still be a smart ass. I rub my hands all over his face and body because I know very soon he will not be here and I will never get to touch him again. My throat feels tight and I’m glad we can talk silently because I don’t think I could get my voice to work right now if I tried. I hold him tighter while rocking back and forth. Rocking back and forth always seems to help me, but not today. It’s useless because nothing is going to change. My Merrick is going to die.
“Merrick, please don’t leave me. I am so sorry about hurting you and anything else I’ve done to cause you pain.”
He leans his head back to look at me with tears in his eyes and his lip quivers.
“I love you, Calista. I will always and forever love you. I have accepted that you and Ryder belong together because he is your destiny, just like it is my destiny to die here today with you.” He reaches up to touch my cheek.
“We will see each other again in the Hereafter. I’ll be waiting for you there.” He closes his eyes and opens them back up slowly. I can tell he’s slipping away.
“My essence will be in you now. When I leave, it will go to you. So you see, we will always be connected and I will always be here.” He puts his hand over my heart and says, “Forever.”
“I love you, Merrick, my friend, my guardian…always.”
I bend down to kiss his lips and I send all the love I have for him pouring into the kiss to take with him to the Hereafter. He kisses me back and then pulls away ever so slowly. His face is peaceful and he looks at me and smiles.
“Goodbye, my love.”
“Goodbye, Merrick.”
A beautiful white light escapes his body as he begins to dissolve into the ash that all Fae become after death. The light floats in front of me, flickering and twinkling like a star. It moves closer to me and then absorbs into my body over my heart. The instant it connects to my body I feel a jolt. A warm sensation spreads around my heart. The hole I felt in my heart before has been filled with the power of that light, and that’s when I feel him…Merrick. He’s there. His essence is in my heart and soul. The loss saddens me and it will hurt for a long time, but the presence of him inside me gives me the power to do what I have to do.
I wipe the tears from my eyes and I look at Ryder still battling the dark sorcerer. He looks tired, but he’s still trying. He goes back and forth between being visible and invisible. I would assume it’s because his concentration is failing. He needs my help, but I need to lay my guardian to rest first because his ashes do not belong here. I take a deep breath to concentrate and the power in me surges and I call upon the wind to carry Merrick’s ashes away. I ask the wind to carry them to our special field; the field where we trained every morning and the place we played as children. The field is a special place for Merrick and me and it will continue to be for as long as I live. I feel the wind blow and it smells fresh and clean. It isn’t the nasty rancid air of the forest, but with a warm, sunlit breeze of a summer wind. I sit there and watch as the remainder of my friend is swept away and taken to our special place.
I look at the ground to see my silver locket and Merrick’s Guardian dagger lying on the ground. I place the silver locket around my neck and I pick up the dagger. My eyes begin to burn and my throat tightens up as I stare at the dagger. I lift my eyes to look at the man who took my guardian away from me. He’s bloody from wounds across his body and he has a sneer on his face while he circles Ryder. That son of a bitch is going down. Ryder has sweat pouring down his face and his breaths are coming fast. His muscles are shaking from the strain and exertion of wielding his sword. He’s a strong warrior and I know he will continue fighting until there is nothing left.
I take a deep steadying breath and close my eyes. I tighten my grip on the dagger and clear my mind. This is all for Merrick and everything he’s taken from me and the people I love. All the hate and rage I have in my body builds and I let the dagger fly with as much force as I can muster. I open my eyes to see that I have once again hit my target. Triumph blossoms inside me, but this is no celebration.
The fighting comes to a stop and the dark sorcerer stands wide-eyed staring at his chest. Ryder runs straight for me and takes me into his arms. He runs his hands down my body like he’s searching for injuries and looks me over like I’m going to disappear any moment.
He’s breathless and says quickly, “Oh Calista, I am so sorry about Merrick. I love you so much, and I don’t know what I would have done if we didn’t get here in time.” He hugs me hard.
“I’m so glad you’re OK.” He kisses me hard and fast. The time for a reunion can wait until we get out of the Black Forest.
The dark sorcerer falls to his knees in Avery’s body. His face is furrowed in pain as he removes the dagger and throws it on the ground. I reach down to quickly grab the dagger and walk away because I refuse to leave it here. Coughing and grinding his teeth, his voice sounds laced with evil when he spits at me.
“This isn’t over, Princess. You may have wounded me now, but at least I succeeded with you. I took a piece of you and now you can’t get it back. I will find the others and when you least expect it, I’ll be there.”