The Soul Seeker: Echo Part 29

Cade's right.

He's not suffering. Has never known a single moment of it.

I'm the one who lost everything.

Took a risk by gambling my soul-only to lose it along with everything else that meant something to me.

But that doesn't mean I can't turn it around-make things right once again.

That doesn't mean I can't make one last bid at redemption.

I heave a shallow, ragged breath, hoping it'll fortify enough to sustain me. Allow me to do what's most needed.

Then I stare at the spot near Cade's feet-willing it to me, but it seems my magick has abandoned me.

Left with no choice, I make the leap and dive toward him. Watching as he dances out of my reach. Wrongly a.s.suming I'm diving after him.

But I'm not.

Not by a long shot.

There's only one way to make up for what I've done.

Only one way to remedy all the wretchedness and ruin the Richters have wrought.

I reach for Daire's athame-the one Cade used against her, still wet with her blood-and grasp hold of the hilt.

Only one way to end this-and I'm the only one willing to do it.

I raise the blade high, my gaze never once leaving Cade's as I say, "Turns out, you were right all along. We're connected in ways I never would've imagined."

Reveling in the mix of horror and understanding that crosses his face.

Frantically lunging, though the move comes too late.

I've already swung the knife down.

Already jammed it straight into my gut.

The act scored by the sound of Cade screaming-Coyote yelping as though I struck him.

My vision blurred by a great spray of blood.

My blood. Cade's blood. It's one and the same.

Watching as my brother-my twin-the one I entered the world with, crumples to the ground, as I collapse right beside him.

They say when you die your whole life flashes before you-but all I can see are visions of Daire.

Daire laughing.

Smiling.

Daire lying beside me-cheeks flushed, looking at me with a gaze filled with love.

My fingers curl around the small golden key, as my eyes slide shut, determined to take the images with me.

Cade and I exiting same as we entered-together, yet alone.

The Soul Seeker Series Continues with mystic.

Coming May 2013.

also by alyson noel.

Everlasting.

Night Star.

Dark Flame Shadowland Blue Moon.

Evermore Dreamland Whisper.

Shimmer Radiance Cruel Summer.

Saving Zoe Kiss & Blog Fly Me to the Moon Laguna Cove.

Art Geeks and Prom Queens Faking 19.

Fated..

About the Author.

ALYSON NOeL is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals series, the Riley Bloom series, and seven previous novels for St. Martin's Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she is at work on her next book. Visit her on the Web at www.alysonnoel.com.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fict.i.tiously.

end.