Chapter 31

“I cannot,” she smiled up at him. “Thank you for indulging my selfish wish to be loved. You no longer need to carry it forward. I am ready to face my fate.” She rolled away from him and rose, pulling on a simple white dress and facing him. “This is the dress I will go to the Mother in. I thank you for your kindness, Ishaan and I will see you rewarded by the Flight for making my last days blissful.”

“I don’t need any of that, Carina.” It hurt him that she’d entirely given up on the council to save her. Maybe she was right to. “I still think we’ll get through this without anyone having to die.”

“Unless your council plans to join me at the airfield then my people are out of time.” Carina smiled that serene smile. “I must rejoin them today and perform the quickening tomorrow.” She walked to him and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I thank you for helping me, thank you for humoring me and thank you for guarding me. I will have the Heart remove the binding when I reach the house.”