Alchemised

by SenLinYu

“You’re mine. You’re mine.” He’d repeat the words over and over. “Say it. Say you’re mine.”

“You’re mine. I’ll always come for you.” He always did.

“Mine. You’re mine,” he said as he kissed her. “Always.”

“You’re mine,” he said almost against her lips. “Mine. You swore it. Your Resistance sold you to me. I’m not going anywhere without you. And if anyone touches you, immortal or not, I will kill them.”

She drew a slow breath as she finished healing Sebastian’s leg. “Do you know anyone who suffers from fevers like that, Luc?” Sebastian had gone very still. Luc shook his head. “Can’t say I do.”

“You’ve always done the worst things because of me.”

“Never did see Etras…” he said, his voice faint. “Sorry. Promised I’d—take you back.”

He stared at the floor a moment before finally meeting her eyes. “I blew my cover getting the Bayard girl for you.”

She was certain she was misunderstanding him, but it was there in his eyes. He was saying goodbye to her.

He jerked her back, his expression set. “You’re leaving, remember? That was the deal you made, Marino. I met the terms.”

His eyes were aglow, as if he was willing her to understand. His gaze flickered across her face as if trying to take it in, memorising her, because this was the end. The last time he’d ever see her.

If I burn it down, they won’t realise that Kaine rescued Lila. If they think she died in a fire, they won’t look for her.

Kaine. He’d come back and found her gone. She’d told him she’d be waiting, and she wasn’t there. The ring burned again and again and again. He was looking for her. He’d come for her. He always did.

She gave a sob and reached for him. “You’re alive,” she said. He flinched back as despair swept across his face. She didn’t understand why.

He shook his head. “Not in Paladia, but you’ll see her soon. You promised Holdfast you’d take care of them, remember? They’ve been waiting for you.”

“I was trying to find you.”

“You didn’t save me,” he said when he was finally capable of speech. “You just put us in hell for two years.”

But this close, despite the alterations of time, he was hers. Still. Just as he had been. He’d loved her, even though he never expected them to be anything but doomed. He’d loved her all the same.

Do you think they won’t guess who the father was and how it came to be? No matter what colour eyes it has, or how old it gets, it will be the child of a murderer, conceived because I raped you while you were my prisoner, and everyone will know that. Everyone.”

“I’m sorry—I’m sorry—I’m so sorry for everything I did to you,” he said, his voice hoarse and broken. “I love you. You left, and I’d never told you.”

For him, acknowledging that he would have a child, a daughter, meant acknowledging that he wouldn’t live to meet her. He was telling the stories so Helena could tell their daughter about him, about what he’d been like, before the Institute and the war.

“Tell me to stop,” he said, his mouth over her throat. “Tell me to stop.” She pulled him closer. “Don’t stop. I don’t want you to stop.”

His expression was unreadable. “We received word that while the Eastern envoy was passing through Novis, the train was attacked. Everyone on board was killed—including Shiseo.”

“I should put her down,” he said softly. “It would be kindest. She won’t understand if I leave her behind.”