Page 36 of Born Wicked

One single tear works its way free, slipping down my cheek. I nod. And we keep trying.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

Fifteen.

That monitor remains flat.

There are no signs of life.

Dread fills me from every corner.

I have to accept it.

I know.

I look at his bloodied face. I see the blood seeping through his clothes. He’s bruised, broken.

I could try to die for him. I did it for Roman once. Maybe I could do it again. But what good would that do? He would be in complete agony from his injuries. And maybe it’s fate. Maybe this really is his time to move on to the next phase of his immortal life. Who am I to play God?

Sometimes we have to accept that the universe is so much bigger than us. And when it comes down to it, we have so very little control.

“Let’s call it,” I say through a thick, tight throat at the twenty-minute mark. My mouth is dry, and my tongue feels thick and dumb in my mouth. “Time of death, 10:47 AM.”

Lily stops chest compressions. She stares down at Mason for a moment, and there’s something so human, so real about the look on her face. He’s a person. Not just a body. It’s easy to forget that sometimes. That what’s lying on the bed isn’t just skin sacks of organs and bones that need fixing.

Lily looks at him, and even though she doesn’t know Mason, there’s sadness in her eyes.

I don’t know her yet. But I want to now.

“I’m so sorry,” Dr. Roshan offers. “I know he was important to you. I hope there is comfort in knowing this isn’t truly the end.”

I nod. I know Mason isn’t dead for good. I know he’s not gone forever.

But this isn’t what he wanted.

We can make plans. We like to pretend we’re in control. But life has a way of happening, no matter what we plan for.

“Thank you,” I offer, my voice small and quiet.

Lily carries over a sheet and pulls it up over Mason’s broken body, as if she’s tucking him in from the cold. She places a hand on his cheek, once more studying him, taking him in as a person.

“I never met Mason Godfrey,” she says. “But the entire city knew he was a good person. Isn’t it a miracle that people like him get a second life?”

“Yeah,” I answer. Her words fill me up and lift my heart in such a heavy moment. And I think that maybe Lily is one of those kinds of people she’s talking about.

“We need to take him someplace safe while he Resurrects.”

I startle, having completely forgotten Roman was in the room. I look back at him to find his expression white and grim.

“Patrick will stand guard if we need,” Roman continues. “But keeping him here in the hospital isn’t a good idea when he wakes up.”

I nod. Slowly, my reason is beginning to return. “He can’t go back to Godfrey Tower either. There are way too many humans who come and go.”

Roman nods in agreement. “He’ll be safe at the Nocturne. We’ll make sure no one is around.”

I sniff once, human instincts of grief still there, even though I haven’t been human in so long now. I nod. “I need to talk to Holly, but then I’ll go with you. Get him situated.”