"Go away," I said, turning to look into Baetrah's flaming depths again.
"Reah, it wasn't meant to be like this. You have to believe me," Kifirin begged.
"I can't believe anything you say, Kifirin. Can I?" I wasn't even looking at him. The fire below was giving a promisiviuot;Lara'e of its own. Of peace and no pain.
"Reah, I only placed Baetrah here for those who'd lived so long they couldn't remember their births and life no longer held interest. Come back to me, little one, and things will be made better."
"How? You can't do it, Kifirin. It isn't within your power to fix this. My daughters were stolen from me long ago. They're Jayd and Glinda's, didn't you know? You took my mates away, you said so yourself. I don't have anything left. My own mate and uncle stole from me. Garde gave away all the sentimental things I had and a Greater Demon violated the sacredness of the act of love. Tell me what I have left now, Kifirin. What do I have left that you will likely take from me in the future?"
"Little one, come away." Nefrigar was still there, only now he stood between Kifirin and me. I blinked at him. He'd been the only one who'd come to visit, no matter what. "My love," he said, "think of the child, if not of yourself. Come away, little one. Take my hand, and I promise enough peace for you until these things might be dealt with. None of these are worth your life. Take my hand, love." He was closer, now. I gazed into the caldera. And then turned back to Nefrigar, who was now close enough to touch. "Take my hand, Reah. I will help you make this right. For you, as well as Garwin Wyatt."
"Garwin Wyatt?"
"Yes. That will be his name, if you take my hand."
"This is Wyatt, back again?" I looked up at Nefrigar's beautiful, blue face. Only now, it held worry and pain.
"Yes, love. He will live again, if you choose to live again. Will you give your hand to me, Lara'Kayan?"
"Lara'Kayan?"
"It is Forever Love in Neaborian. There will be no other for me, Reah. You are all I have." Two more tears fell and Nefrigar caught them with his fingers. "Come, little one. Come away from this death. It is not for you or for Wyatt." Another sob came, and another, before I reached my arms up to Nefrigar. He pulled me against him so quickly even I failed to see it, and folded us away.
The End
