Thanatos rose to his feet and shrugged his coat on. Even though he was exhausted, he wouldn't try to sleep any longer. He dressed quickly, quietly.
He would find the Dark-Hunter. Find his woman.
She would die, but Zarek... he would live. Just as Thanatos had. In eternal pain, aching for his love who was lost.
Zarek paused as he looked down at Astrid, who had fallen asleep while they'd been talking.
Talking.
He'd never thought to really do that with anyone. But then, he'd done a lot of things with her that he had never thought to experience.
Even asleep she looked tired. Her sweet eyes had circles underneath them.
He placed a kiss on her lips, and moved away so as not to disturb her.
The demon lay on the floor where she had been sitting. She was also sound asleep. One arm was curled under her head while the other hand was tucked under her chin. She reminded him of a little girl. No wonder Ash liked her.
He glanced back at Astrid. His strength.
His weakness.
Simi was Ash's.
And he had responsibility for both of them.
Feeling the full weight of that burden, Zarek grabbed an extra blanket and covered the demon.
She smiled in her sleep and said very softly, "Thank you, akri."
Zarek looked longingly at his coat, which was still underneath Astrid.
He took another blanket over to her and covered her, too. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small items he'd collected when he'd ventured into his cabin a few minutes before to get food for Simi.
He set them beside Astrid and placed her hand over them so that she could "see" what they were when she awoke.
He let his hand linger on her face.
"I'll miss you," he breathed, knowing that even after he became a Shade she would torment him.
After all, he needed her more than he needed food or air.
She was his life.
Taking a deep breath, he ran his fingers through her hair, letting it warm him. He imagined her fiery and soft in his arms. The way she looked when she came for him.
The way her voice sounded whenever she said his name.
Yes, he would definitely miss her.
It was why he had to keep her safe.
Forcing himself away from the comfort she offered, he left the two women.
He went to the end of the tunnel that led out into the woods.
Armed with as much firepower as he could carry, he opened the trapdoor, shivered as the cold air rushed over him, and left to find Thanatos.
Astrid jerked awake when a strange sound invaded her sleep.