Ashen's world had collapsed in a single devastating moment.
He had poured every last drop of his remaining power into that final spear, all his grief, all his rage for Alex's murder, every ounce of strength his drained body could summon.
He had meant to kill Vespera. He had needed to kill the woman who had poisoned and slaughtered his brother.
He never expected Lumina to throw herself in front of it.
Tears streamed down his face in torrents. His voice cracked into desperate sobs. "Lumina! I am sorry… I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hit you! I only wanted to kill her, she killed Alex! Please… please don't leave me!"
Blood kept pouring from her mouth and the massive wound on her side.
Every cough sent fresh crimson spilling over her lips and down her chin, staining her black-and-red gown and his own clothes. Her silver eyes were half-lidded, dimming rapidly.
