Hours dragged by, and still Celeste raced on Shadowdancer through the countryside. Instead of collapsing, I filled my thoughts with her face. Dreamily, as she had stared up at me after our first kiss. But she hated me now. The realization toppled my heart more than the thought of my people perishing. Remembering her eyes full of hurt as she wept when I told her my mission broke my stride. Never did I wish her harm. I longed to comfort her. In the distance, she and Shadowdancer stopped. With ragged breath, I slumped to the ground. Maybe I’d give her another night. Then I’d demand she give me the dagger. I would explain why I must kill her before I did. She deserved that much. Would she think less of me? In the distance, I saw her set up camp for the night. I squeezed my eyes shut. Why did I care what she thought? My people would die. The whole land would die if I let Celeste keep the dagger. Let my eyelids shroud me in darkness. Smelled the warmth like baking earth in the air, but it was her campfire.
