“If you kill her, I’ll have no incentive to win your war.” Though he longed to look to Meredith again, he kept his gaze leveled on Aveline. “I will gladly give my life on Terra, and you will lose the All War.”

She smiled, the gears clearly rotating in her mind. “My answer is...no. You’ll do everything you can to win the All War, if only to return and seek revenge against me.”

Realization: she might actually...do this. Panic returned and redoubled, clawing at him. “I’m begging you, Aveline. Do not do this.”

“Silly Bane. It’s as good as done.” She nodded to Micah.

The bastard maneuvered behind Meredith, then fisted her hair to tilt back her head and expose her vulnerable neck.

“I will go,” Bane rushed out. “I will kill the hybrid princess and win Terra. You have my word.”

“Too late.” Aveline stood, the action as fluid as water, and glided closer to Meredith. She stopped a mere whisper away.

He fought, fought so hard. A sizzling tear streamed down his cheek. “Please, Aveline.”

“I love you, Bane.” Meredith tried to smile, but a sob escaped. “May we meet again in the hereafter.”

“You cry for each other. Pathetic.” Lacking any kind of gentleness, Aveline cupped Meredith’s cheek.

Bane bellowed curse after curse. Calm down. Think! Words began to rush from him. “Do you remember when we were children, Aveline? You wanted a rose from the queen’s private garden. I snuck in and stole it for you, earning twenty lashes. Yet I bore the pain with pride, for I’d made you smile. You said you’d never forget, that you’d always be in my debt.”

“Oh, yes. About that. I lied,” she said, not bothering to glance in his direction.

New curses burst from him.

Meredith struggled...at first. Then black lines—death lines—branched over her face, beginning where Aveline’s hands rested, and she stilled, utterly subdued. Blood leaked from her eyes and poured from her nostrils.

Fresh tears streaked down his cheeks. The Touch of Death. Aveline’s unique ability in action.

As his precious wife gasped for breath she couldn’t catch, her mouth flailing open and closed, blood painted her teeth and dribbled down her chin. Still he fought. Get to her! Just have to get to her, and she’ll be all right. He would transfuse her with his blood. Every drop, if necessary. His life for hers. A worthy sacrifice. Muscles and tendons tore, the pain excruciating. Stars winked through his vision. And yet, the compulsion to remain in place never wavered.

Then Meredith’s head lulled forward, her body going lax.

“No!” Was she de—gone?

Aveline punched a fist through his wife’s chest cavity, ripping out her heart. Micah released her body, and Meredith crashed to the floor, the pop of breaking bones ringing out.