KNIGHT It had been four fucking hours. Nirvana had received a prophylactic drug, and she should have improved, at least woke up, but she remained the same. “Maybe you should go home and get some rest.” Kailin and McKaye arrived earlier. “I’ll stay with her, I promise.” “No.” I shook my head stubbornly as I watched Nirvana lying unconscious in bed. She had oxygen through her nose, and although her breathing had improved, her heart rate remained low. “I won’t leave her again. I won’t let her out of my sight ever again.” “You need to nap, cuz. You have to trust me if I say I’ll always be with her.” “Stop it, Kailin. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying by her side.” “I know you’re blaming yourself for what happened, but your property is safe.” “None of this should happen if I’m more very careful. Suppose she’s bitten by a wolf. At least we know how to treat her. I just let her walk out of the door. Who else should be blamed if not me?” My chest was in constant pain, and it was hard

KNIGHT “What warlock are you talking about?” “Cyrius?” “Who the fuck is Cyrius? Why isn’t she healing?” I stopped breathing. I stopped living the moment I saw the poison spread fast down her back, up to the back of her neck. “Cyrius is the warlock that killed her parents.” “I thought he’s dead.” I glared at Zarah. “He is not dead after all. When you touched the mark on her neck, it weakened the spell that kept him locked up for years. Now, his mission is to find the last line of Katzius.” “Who?” I blinked off my tears when I felt like there was nothing they could do. “This can’t be. There’s something we can do.” “She’s drifting, Knight.” Even Zarah sounded devastated, and the room seemed filled with so much grief. “No! I don’t believe that!” I screamed at them. My voice boomed and rattled the room, startling Shadow, while Zarah didn’t even flinch. “I’m so sorry, Knight. I thought I could do something to help her.” “Try again, Shadow. Call your father. Maybe he can help. Ple

NIRVANA “Wait. Are you my great-great-grandfather? My mom’s great-grandfather. Whoa. That’s cool. How old are you exactly?” “I’m Ambrose, little one.” My gaze landed on my dead ex-boyfriend. “Is that?” Warlock Ambrose, or my great-great-grandfather, just waved his hand, and my ex, that son of a bitch, just vanished. “Where did he go?” “It’s not important right now, Nirvana. How are you feeling?” asked Knight. I sat on the bed and held his hand. “Why are you looking at me like I just died and brought back to life, and now you look at me as if I vanish if you blink?” “That’s exactly how I feel. I can’t lose you again, Nirvana. Can you be a little serious right now?” “I’m so sorry.” I breathed deeply because what I was about to say might shock them or piss them off. “I’m feeling okay like before. I died, did I?” I looked at their reactions, and they just stared at me like I was some kind of magical creature. “Medically, yes, but magically, you did not die. Your breathing and yo

NIRVANA “So you’re leaving tonight? That can’t wait until morning.” I was still not ready for Ambrose to go. I still had a lot of unanswered questions, and I wanted to get to know him. “I can’t stay, young one. You have Zarah to guide you and answer your questions.” I sighed. “Thank you for everything. For giving me back my life.” “You earn it. As they say, you only live once, but be careful out there.” I smiled and found myself hugging him. “You too, take care.” “How do you go from here?” Knight asked. “I can send you wherever you go,” McKaye volunteered. “I appreciated the offer, but I can take it from here.” He stepped out of the house with his cane until I watched him disappear into the dark. Once he was gone, I felt suddenly sad. We went back inside in the living room. “I have to go, too,” Shadow said. “I may not be able to heal you, but I’m glad you trust me enough.” “Are you kidding me? You, being here is enough for me. I’m eternally grateful.” I hugged her. “I’ll se

NIRVANA I had the longest shower in history. In fact, I lost myself in the mist. I could still be there if Knight hadn’t knocked on the door. “I’m done.” I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel. I found myself staring at the mirror. I looked the same, except the irises in my eyes were slightly lighter. It was probably from the light in the bathroom because I felt the same. “You okay?” Knight came beside me. I knew he was just concerned. After what I had been through, cheating death, I should have been horrified that magic could cheat beyond my understanding. If dying and getting saved by a master warlock counted as unnatural, then I was not a normal human being anymore. I squinted my eyes as I looked at him in the mirror. “If you’ll ask me one more time, I swear I’m gonna punch your nose.” He smiled. “We don’t have to be violent tonight. I’m just checking up on you. Anyway, I brought your clothes here. You said you didn’t want someone touching your things, so they’re still