I Love You More Than Anything

Warning: Some graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

The thudding sound of her steps as she walked toward the house echoed in her ears like the pounding of a drum. Time slowed, other people faded from her gaze, and her heart picked up. The walk seemed to take years, but in reality, only seconds had passed. As she opened the door, all she felt was pain. Crippling, debilitating pain. She collapsed, screaming and writhing on the floor. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't move. There was nothing she could do. She felt arms lifting her up and placing something in her mouth, so she didn't bite off her tongue. 

After fifteen minutes, she slowly began to get accustomed to the pain. Well, she wouldn't say accustomed, more like she was able to filter it out. She knew that the pain wasn't coming from her, which meant it could only be him. She staggered to her feet, moving as quickly as she could to his room. She heard a voice saying something to her, but she didn't know what was said, nor did she care to know. The only thing that mattered to her was that he was there in front of her and in so much pain that even the part that was transferred to her felt like it would kill her.

She opened the door and felt her knees go weak. She steeled herself, forcing her legs to move toward him. Her love. The person who mattered most to her was lying there with not a single part of his body untouched. She looked. At the burns everywhere that looked as if someone had branded him over and over.

She looked at the careful, deep slices in his flesh. At the fingers that went the wrong way, at the face she would always know, even when so many things had been done to destroy it beyond recognition.

At his ears, one of his was missing while the other… The other was much worse off. She looked at the scalp that carried deep knife wounds that covered his face as well. At his eyes that were unable to open. At his knees, which were broken, at his legs covered in brands and, in some parts, skinned. The world swayed beneath her feet, but she somehow kept walking as she finished the short steps to the bed. 

Every single part of him was covered with marks of torture.

Salana's legs finally gave out as she reached his bed. She didn't cry, nor did she do anything but lie next to him, gently hugging him, and she spoke to him lovingly. She talked about the first time they met, how happy she had been, how much she adored the time they spent together, and the fact that there was never a single day that she couldn't feel how much he loved her. She gently stroked the only part of him without brands or marks, his shoulder, while telling him how much she loved him.

She talked to him about their life together, the clothes she made to wear for him when they got married, their children's names….on and on she spoke for hours. She spoke about every and anything she had ever wanted to say to him. She could feel the love he had for her in response to what she said, through their bond. She didn't allow it to cause her to falter. She would continue telling him about the things and memories she enjoyed with him, because of him, until he left her. 

She talked herself hoarse, until she could only whisper. She could feel him slipping away from her. At that moment, she knew he was leaving so she kissed face softly and whispered," I love you more than anything in this world, my love, and I'll join you as soon as the people responsible pay. If there is another life then I pray that the Moon Goddess would take pity and bless us both to be reincarnated together, where we wouldn't have anything or anyone attempting to harm us."

Even to his last breath, she could feel his worry and concern for her. Moon Goddess, this man was always more worried about her than himself. She laughed hysterically until she started screaming. Whatever calm she had while he was there was gone. The agony she felt losing him, the pain he felt for those hours, what he suffered through, all of it came out. She could feel someone trying to move her away from him, but she fought them off, hugging him tighter. She wouldn't leave him. No one could make her leave him. 

If someone asked her to explain what she felt at that time, she wouldn't even be able to answer. All that was left was pain. All she could do was scream and let it out because she didn't know how she'd even survive this. 

Downstairs, Daneigha herself was a wreck. She had lost her mate years ago and now her son was dying. Worse was that her son was dying this way. When she heard his mate's screams of agony, she completely broke down. Her father, who was comforting Daneigha along with his wife while Salana spent the last few moments with him, ran upstairs to her. He tried taking her from Cyrus' body, but she kicked and screamed, hugging him and refusing to leave. All he could do was sit with her and be there when she calmed down. 

An hour later, Salana finally cried herself to sleep. He picked her up and moved her to Cyrus' study. He knew there was a bed there that Cyrus sometimes used, so he was hoping that being around him and smelling his scent would at least allow her to have a peaceful rest. His mate was chosen, but he loved her more than anything else. If he lost her, he would die as well, so he couldn't imagine how a person bound by a mating bond and connected on so many levels would feel. 

As a father, he was incredibly grateful to Cyrus. Not just for the way he loved his daughter, but for his actions that proved it time and time again. The fact that she was unable to feel that anything was wrong until she got to the house was proof that he actively blocked their bond, so whatever he felt wouldn't be felt by her as well. Normally, when one relaxes their guard, the block dissolves, but he maintained it despite the pain he was experiencing. Considering the way Salana collapsed screaming when she walked through the door after feeling a small percentage while he was blocking, he knew it must have taken a considerable amount of sheer willpower. 

Even to the end, he showed how much he loved her. He knelt beside the bed as his daughter slept, praying, "Moon Goddess, please let them meet each other again in another life. Please let them meet early again and live together with no problems. If there is a price, I will gladly pay it, but please pity them enough to allow them another chance. "