He turns his attention toward Kaebl. “What, you have nothing to say? You don’t want to do a little dance? A twirl? No? Nothing?” Malice tips his head back as a hollow laugh echoes into the air. “That’s hilariously ironic. You of all people should be taking pleasure in this moment. Why, this is what you’ve wanted all along, isn’t it, dear Kaebl?”

It is. His gaze hardens. Until I met Dagny. My mind changed that day as well, though it took me some time to admit it. This is just as hard on me as it is on you all.

Malice scoffs, shaking his head softly. “Yes, well… we’re wasting precious time.” His eyes rise, meeting mine head-on. “You all should say your goodbyes.”

And you?

“I… I can’t,” he whispers. “If I touch her, if I hear her say my name, I won’t…” He blinks, and his mask crumbles, revealing all the pain and anguish hidden beneath his carefully crafted disguise. “I won’t be able to let her go.” He turns, tears springing to his eyes as he chokes, “I’m sorry.”

I watch Malice disappear past the tree line, my heart clenching as the darkness consumes him, taking him away from me forever.

My remaining five mates crowd around me, their voices muddled and eyes watery as their hushed whispers roll over my skin, caressing me and attempting to soothe the terrible ache spreading from the center of my chest, to make me believe everything will be okay. But I know the truth. I know deep down, it never will be again.

They pull away much too soon, and though everything inside me is screaming to call this off—to demand we find some other way—I know that will only make it harder for them. I’m not the only one who has to let go, and if I put it off too long, their sacrifice will be for nothing.

“You should go,” I whisper, staring hard at a crack in the ice next to my foot. “It’s time.”

“Dagny…” Cyprien whines, but still allows his hands to drop to his sides. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“There is nothing else.” I lift my head with a small smile, but it holds no joy. “Malice was right. We all knew this was the end, deep down. There’s… nothing to be spoken that we haven’t said to each other already.”

Kaebl nods, his eyes swirling with an emotion I can’t seem to place. She’s right, Cyprien. We have… we have to go.

Fenryr turns his head, staring at the spot Malice used to occupy. “He’s probably holding the heart as we speak… just waiting…”

Roark huffs a deep sigh, squeezing my hand one last time before letting it drop. He stares down at his palm, his expression crumbling as he whispers, “I’ll miss you, little doe.”