I feel Cronos slip something into my hand and manage to look down at the little carved butterfly. He put the pieces back together. I force my head back up only for my eyes to go wide, my agony turning to panic because Cronos is glowing. Glowing and…disintegrating. Horror steals any of the breath left in my body, and I choke. Even dying, he’s stronger than me. Holding me steady, he leans forward and places a soft kiss on my forehead, like a blessing, and whispers words I don’t hear. Then he releases me and, before I can stop him, takes a step down the platform toward the circling wall of flame,
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