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"Not nothing, never nothing We have each other" But for how long? "I won’t let you die"

"Nothing can be done"

Slowly the deht radiated from them "I’ll kill the that ever happened to ainst his back

"I forbade you to talk like that, Kadence" To say goodbye For that’s what she was doing, he kneas

"Kill them and run, just as you planned Live in peace and freedom, my love Both are yours You deserve them"

No No! "You will not die" But even as he said it, the wall, so badly da Widening "Swear to ave out, and he turned, roaring, easing her to the ground Her eyes were closed "So…sorry Love"

"No You will live Do you hear me? You will live!"

Her head lolled to the side Then, nothing

"Kadence" He shook her "Kadence!"

No response But there was a rising and falling of her chest She lived still Thank gods, thank gods, thank gods

"Tell

"Please" Tears burned his eyes He had not cried for the wife that left him, had not cried for the life he’d lost, but he cried for this woman I need you She wanted hi this real himself to o on

So sharp scraped at his neck, and he jerked his head to the side The Lords flew around therowled He would spend however long was necessary, holding her until it was safe enough to move her

"Kill her," one demon beseeched

"Destroy her"

"Maihter

Bastards! One of the blood before Geryon realized as happening She did not react But he did He roared with so much fury, the sound scraped at his ears

The rest of the deht Then there was a moment of absolute stillness and quiet The calm before the storm For, in the next instant, they attacked in a frenzy

Geryon roared again, throwing himself over Kadence to take the brunt of their assault Soon his back was in tatters, one of his horns chewed loose, a tendon severed All the while he swung out his ar to slay as e his blow

On and on the laughter and abuse continued

"I love you," Kadence suddenly whispered in his ear "Your scream…pulled me from…darkness Had to…tell you"

She had awakened? His muscles spasmed in shock and relief "I love you Stay with h to defend yourself, I can kill them We can leave"

"I’m…sorry Can’t"

Then he would find a way to save her and continue protecting her He never would have brought her into Hell had he known this would happen He would have spent his entire existence at the gate, fighting to protect it Her

Wait Fighting to protect These demons wanted to escape That’s why they were here

"Go," he screamed to them "Leave this place The mortal realm is yours" He didn’t care anymore Only Kadencefor his permission, it finally toppled completely Which meant--

"No," he screamed "I did not mean for you to collapse I only h" But it was too late, the dae was done

Gleeful, the Demon Lords abandoned him and flew into the cave, then disappeared froathered Kadence in his bleeding arer matters Tell ether"

"Goodbye, my love," she said, and died in his arms

CHAPTER TWENTY

SHE WAS DEAD KADENCE was dead And there was nothing he could do to save her He knew it as surely as he kneould take his next breath An unwanted, hated breath Those stinging tears slid down his cheeks,reminders that he lived--and she did not

I failed her Damn this, I failed her!

She had wanted his help to save the wall, to save her She had wanted his help to keep the Demon Lords inside Hell, yet he had failed her on all counts Failed, failed, failed