Chapter 44. A Brush with Death

ASTRID

I stood frozen in place, my emotions overflowing as I gazed at Magnus.

The deep, unsatisfying hunger that had taken hold of me since the day I decided not to return was slowly being satiated by his sight.

"Sat... tried," he choked out before a sudden cough cut him off.

“Magnus!!” I bellowed as I rushed forward, barely fast enough to hold him from totally collapsing on the ground.

"Oh no! Oh no!" I chanted as he began coughing again, with blood sputtering out from his mouth with each sound.

"I can't be dead," he stuttered, his words barely coherent. "Astrid?"

"Yes! Magnus, you aren't dead!"

He attempted to smile, but it looked painful as he raised a shaky hand on my cheek.

“I…I'd-”

"Stop talking," I ordered, and he studied my face through half-closed eyes before wrapping his arms around me.

And even with no words said, I understood perfectly as I, too, could feel it. Relief and tears sprang to m