“Please.”

The light that streamed from Serena’s bloody hands flared, burning her eyes with a blinding brilliance.

She jerked upright, heart in throat and eyes screwed shut, and shieled her face, dropping what remained of the diamond necklace as it shattered into nothingness. Heat burned against her arms and chest yet the fear that clutched at Serena’s heart held her in place, oblivious to the searing pain.

It vanished a heartbeat later, taking with it the blinding light; Serena snapped her eyes open and withdrew her hands, letting them fall onto Werond’s –

She gaped, tearstained eyes stinging as they widened; not a trace of gore remained. Gone was the river of blood that soaked the floor, once a halo of crimson around Werond’s head; gone was the blood that drenched her tunic, now spotless, if wrinkled where Serena had grasped it; and gone was the gash in Werond’s throat, smooth skin where once a valley of red had been carved. A thin white scar-line seemed drawn in its place, glowing a bright silver against her dark skin.

Serena’s chest tightened painfully as a strangled sob caught in her throat, jerking her body as though someone had shaken her. She tore her gaze away from the glowing scar and looked up at Werond’s eyes, cold and lifeless not a moment before, but now –

A shocking blue, their amber color seemingly forgotten; the death that had once filled them had fled, replaced now by a spark of –

With an almighty heave of her chest, Werond came to and gulped down the deepest breath Serena had ever witnessed, a desperate inhale to fill her empty lungs; her body shuddered with effort, then descended into the throes of a horrible, racking cough. Spittle sprayed against Serena’s face as life returned to Werond tenfold, bringing back the color of her cheeks, and the warmth in her body.

The fit continued for a terrible minute, wheezing filling its place as it petered out; Werond’s blue eyes refocused as her body slowly began to settle, her gaze falling onto Serena with the look of one who’d just woken from a god-awful nightmare.

Serena had remained frozen as life returned to Werond, and even now, meeting her lover’s wonderous blue gaze, she could only stare, unable to believe the sight before her. The silence gave Werond ample time to open her mouth and croak out a word that, just moments before, Serena believed she’d never hear again:

“Darling…”

She thawed as a familiar heat came rushing to her chest.

Serena clutched at Werond’s tunic and fell against her as a single shuddering sob tore through her lips and utterly consumed her, racking with a wave of relief that seared every inch of her exhausted body. It only worsened as she felt the warmth of Werond’s embrace, sending forth an ocean of hot tears that stained her throat and chest.

Despite her tears, time continued to march on; the flames that consumed the house roared around Serena, coalescing with the harsh clang of metal against metal, along with a desperate scream and fiery eruption – the world falling to pieces. Yet through that harsh cacophony, gentle in her ear, came the whisper of Werond’s breath – shuddering, but strong – drowning out the chaos around them, a sound that kept Serena’s heart beating strong – a sound that, deep within, Serena knew had saved her life.

In between her sobs and gasps for air, Serena whispered a pray of thanks to the Platinum Dragon, still unable to believe the effects of her own magic. Her choker seemed to itch in response.

Gradually, Serena’s sobs lessened, gasps for air now deep, shuddering breaths; Werond still held Serena as her tears began to run out, occasionally running her fingers through her tangled hair. As Serena grew still, her warm embrace withdrew as Werond grasped her shoulders and tried – without success – to push her back up.

“Serena…” Werond’s voice had cleared, just a bit. “Serena…we need to…”

Serena pushed herself up, only to stop halfway as a wave of fresh exhaustion slammed against her; her head wobbled, and her eyes screwed shut as Serena almost fell back against Werond, who held her up with equally trembling arms.

“Serena…” Werond said, voice strained. “Jarlaxle…”

The world came flooding back.

Despite the exhaustion that weighed at her, Serena forced herself up the rest of the way and willed her eyes open, meeting Werond’s tired gaze, her eyes slowly reverting to their original amber hue – a sunrise over the ocean. It didn’t stop her grasp from tightening on Werond’s tunic, almost pulling her off the floor, as the remnants of her relief burned away, replaced by the single word that burned the brightest within her:

“Why?!”

Werond flinched, hard enough that her eyes shut, her body growing unbearably warm against Serena.

“Why?!” Serena screamed, eyes welling up once more. “Why?! You left! You walked away! Why?! We could have done something – it’s us against him – we could have –” She jerked, fighting off a sob that threatened to annihilate her. “I could have done something, but you walked away! You left! Werond, why?! I don’t – I don’t understand!”

Werond’s jaw tightened as tears eked out the corners of her eyes. Serena’s hands flew out and grasped her face – tightly, but not ungently.

“Look at me!”

Werond’s eyes snapped open, glassy now, reflecting the flames that slowly burned around them.

“Why didn’t you wait?! Why didn’t you let me help?! Out of everything we’ve done, everything we’ve said or-or promised I – all I’ve wanted to do was help you! Why didn’t you let me help you?!” The sob from before tore through Serena’s throat like a dagger. “Did any of that matter?! Do my words mean nothing to you?!”

“They mean everything!” Werond replied instantly, grip tightening on Serena’s shoulders.

“Then why don’t you trust me?!”

Werond jerked as if she’d been struck, teeth gritting in a heart-wrenching grimace; Serena’s shoulders slumped under her grip, tears blurring her vision.

“You killed yourself.” Serena’s voice shook with the tremble that filled her body. “Werond you…you killed yourself. I-I saw it, I…” Her throat tightened, voice cracking. “Why? I don’t understand. Did I do – was it me? I –”

A horrible shudder went up Serena’s spine, cutting off her words as she slumped further. The grip on her shoulders tightened as Werond held her up, and when Serena met her gaze again, her eyes were the color of the sun.

“It was never you.” Werond said. “Never. It was me…always me.” She sucked in a shuddering breath. “I told you before, I’m a coward. I was so scared Serena…of losing you and having to go on without you, I…he’s done so much to me already, I couldn’t see a way out. He was going to win. And…to have to go on living with what I’d done to you, I…” Her voice quavered, thick with the same sorrow that ran down her cheeks. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t. I refused to live like that. And I moved without thinking.”

The mask slipped; Werond disappeared from under Serena, replaced by the self-loathing woman that she had seen only once before.

“T-there’s nothing I can say to make this right. I s-should have trusted you b-but I was so scared…and I hurt you just like I said I would. I never wanted it to be like this b-but…” Her eyes squeezed shut. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness but…I’m sorry –”

Werond’s hands dropped from Serena’s shoulders, trailing down her arms as her voice cracked, her sobs consuming her. Serena could only stare as the woman she loved shattered completely, lost within the throes of a guilt she would never truly understand.

A sight that she couldn’t bear.

Without a shred of hesitation, Serena – hands still cupping Werond’s slick face – leaned down and pressed her lips against Werond’s, kissing her with the same desire that burned within Serena the first night she realized that she didn’t have to be alone anymore – a desire that guided her even now. Werond started from the sudden passion, but gave in immediately, as though she shared that same burning desire Serena felt within her chest every single day.

No matter how long they’d remain pressed together, it would have never been enough; Serena pulled away with a reflectance as thick as Werond’s voice, still aware of the sluggish flames around them. Werond, sobs finally dying away, stared up at her with a half-lidded gaze, one tinged with an easily readable exhaustion.

“Serena…” Werond whispered.

“I’ll get us out of this.” Serena pulled her hands away from Werond’s face, leaving them against her chest. “All of us. I’ll find a way. I promise.”

“No –”

“I don’t know how. I think I’m alone.” Serena cut her off; she glanced up and for the first time realized that the flames around them had almost frozen in place, so slow did they burn. “But I’ll figure it out. I will. I promise.”

She looked back down and blinked as her lips collided with Werond’s raised, trembling hand.

“Why?” Werond said, voice laced with exhaustion.

Through the maelstrom that raged within Serena – of the sudden attack, of losing – and regaining – the woman she loved, of the creeping realization that she’d abandoned her friends, unsure if they still lived – the press of Werond’s thumb against her lips sent that pulse of familiar heat through Serena. A calm, comforting warmth that slowed her heart, and eased the fear that loomed in the back of her mind.

She took Werond’s hand into her own, held it just as she did with the necklace – clutched in fervent pray – and spoke the words that came from her very soul.

“Because I love you.” Serena whispered. “And nothing will change that.”

Werond offered her a small smile – tinged with something that Serena couldn’t make out – but said nothing more as her eyes drifted shut.

For a few heartbeats, her hand remained pressed against Serena’s lips, until finally, it fell limp in her hands. Serena lowered it onto her chest and sighed in relief as she felt Werond’s heart beating steady and strong; with heavy reluctance, she untangled herself and slipped her arms under Werond’s back and legs.

“I’ll get us out of here.” Serena repeated. “I promise.”

As she stood up, the weight of her love cradled tightly within her arms, the flames above her resumed their beautiful dance.