Better a God Than You

"Don't let her leave."

I heard Emile's steely voice ring out from behind me, and the air seemed to grow heavier.

I had barely made it down three steps of the cobblestone staircase when a line of soldiers blocked my path, lowering their halberds in unison.

There was no way forward. I knew that even without seeing their faces. Judging from the clink of their armor, I guessed there were at least a dozen of them.

Heavy footsteps drew closer from behind. Only Emile walked like that: heavy, steady, and self-assured. He never hurried after me because he knew I had nowhere to run.

He seized my wrist and pulled me back against him.

"Where do you think you're going, Undine?" His low, weary voice sounded above me. His chest felt warm against my cheek. "I stepped out only to receive a decree from the king, and by the time I returned, you were gone. Are you trying to embarrass me in front of the entire imperial court?"

I did not struggle. I no longer had the strength to do even that.

I could hear his heartbeat through his clothes. It was strong and steady. It reminded me of the day he was shot six years ago. He had hovered on the brink of death then, and I had saved his life through Soulforging. My hair had turned snowy white because of it.

Things had changed.

His heart beat strong, and a long life stretched before him. On the other hand, I had begun counting down the days until I ceased to exist.

"Unhand me," I said.

"No." His answer came without hesitation, almost tinged with annoyance. "Go back to your quarters and get some rest. We can always talk tomorrow."

He lifted me into his arms like a bride and carried me away, his footsteps as heavy as ever.

At one point, I heard him instruct a handmaiden, "Bring the Chalice of Calm to Lady Giselle's room. The wound from that arrow has kept her from sleeping, but the Chalice and the frankincense it burns will help her recover."

My blood turned to ice.

The Chalice of Calm was a personal artifact the Hierarch of Aubun had given me after I performed Soulforging for the second time. It existed to prolong my life. Without its power, my soul would dissipate even sooner.

"No!" I thrust an arm out from his embrace and lunged toward the Chalice.

My fingertips brushed its cool metal, and I clung to the table where it rested. "I need it to sustain my soul, Emile! You can't give it to her!"

He fell silent for a moment before prying my fingers from the table one by one, as gently as he could.

"Undine, Giselle shielded me from a stray arrow with her own life. I owe it to her to help her recover as quickly as possible.

"Besides, she'll only borrow the Chalice for a few days. Your soul is completely intact after the first two rituals. You'll be fine. I'll protect you, after all. Now... let go."

When he peeled away my last finger, he drew me back into his arms and held me tightly. The Chalice disappeared moments later.

I listened as the handmaiden's footsteps faded into the distance.

Emile did not follow her. Instead, he took out a silk handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat and soot from my fingers.

"I'll visit the herb garden at St. Mercedes' Hospital tomorrow and bring you the finest medicine this land has to steady your soul," he said as he kissed the crown of my head.

His breath warmed my scalp, and the kiss felt firm, almost possessive. "I'll make sure you're the most respected and noble woman in the world on the day of our wedding.

"But for that to happen, you need to rest and stop making things so hard on yourself. Remember, the only woman I can be patient with is my beloved, and my beloved is you."

Then he left.

The door slammed shut behind him. Its heavy groan echoed through my quarters.

I clutched the edge of my blanket and felt something implode inside me.

Agony erupted from the depths of my soul.

My back arched as I coughed up dark blood. It glistened in the silvery light.

That was the sound of my soul shedding its first fragment. No one else could hear it.