Chapter 13 · On His Knees in Her Scent

He's going to die.

The poison's spreading faster than I thought. Black veins crawl up his neck, branching across his jaw like cracks in ice. His breathing's shallow. Uneven. The kind of breathing that stops.

I'm still holding him. My arms are shaking.

He's heavy. Heavier than he should be. His head's against my shoulder and I can feel the heat rolling off him in waves. The fire poison's burning him from the inside out.

"Gu Hanchuan." I shake him. Nothing. "Gu Hanchuan, wake up."

His eyelids flutter but don't open. His lips move. No sound comes out.

I could let him die.

The thought's so clear it scares me. I could let go right now. Walk out. Let the poison finish what Elder Feng started. He'd be gone by dawn and I'd still have my spirit root. I'd still have a chance to run.

He didn't help me three years ago.

But he took the needle for me ten minutes ago.

I press my hand against his chest. His heartbeat's erratic. Too fast, then too slow, then skipping entirely. His spiritual core's collapsing. I can feel it through the contract bond—