The Dragon's Mate

Chapter 67

Hunter says, "Emerald.. no...baby." Emerald weakly says, "it...w-was...w-worth...it..." Hunter says, "you are right, you did incredible, now we just-." He pulls her closer as his body is trembling whilst she is bleeding out heavily. Hunter says, "we can save you; we just have to-." Emerald says, "Hunter...." Hunter's eyes begin to cry as he says, "No! you can't go, Emerald, you cannot leave me." Emerald caresses Hunter's face saying, "I don't want to." Hunter kisses her forehead still holding Emerald close to his chest saying, "I know so we will find a way, we can-." Emerald soon feels something wet hitting her cheeks as she looks into Hunter's eyes in which tears are falling as he feels grief and panic saying, "Please...Please...Please." Emerald feels her blood pools black and thick between her and Hunter as she trembles in his arms; tears fall from her eyes as she grows colder and colder with her breath hitching. Emerald says, "Hunter, I- I'm sorry-." Hunter says,"No, don't go Emmy, you can't do you hear me?." He pulls her to him as his lips brush against hers as he says, "you can't go because I- I love you." 

Waves of emotion crash over her, stronger than the fiercest Dragonfire as she can hardly believe her ears. He says, "I love you, so much Emerald so much it could kill me." Emerald stares at up Hunter overwhelmed with happiness as she says, "Hunter, I love you too." Hunter says surprised, "you do?." Emerald replies, "yes, every time you fought for me, every time you held me, I feel more for you." She grabs his shirt pulling herself closer to him ignoring the pain. She says, "I love you Hunter more than you know." Hunter gasps through his tears, his eyes glinting in the moonlight as he says, "I never thought... given all I did to you...." Emerald says, "you have shown me kindness in a world that only ever promised pain, that's all you ever did. How could I not love you for that?." Hunter's big warm arms tighten around Emerald as she is assured he would never let go of her. Hunter says, "God,I love you Emerald you are the bravest person I have ever met." Emerald says, "I am only brave thanks to your power it found its way into me and-." Hunter says, "No, that's not the strength I am talking about." The heat from Hunter's body radiates over her, making her forget her pain as he says, "you were brave long before you met me, you showed me the meaning of real strength." Emerald kisses Hunter as her blood-soaked hands slides up through his hair,pulling him tighter against her as she thinks, 'I'll miss you, Hunter, so much.' Emerald loses herself in the feeling of him, this Dragon that loves her with pure unadulterated passion then something miraculous happen as Emerald pulls away from Hunter as he says, "what?!." Hunter's eyes burn bright purple,and a blanket of warmth overtakes the gripping cold that promised her death. Emerald feels something glowing within her asking, "is this a dream?." Hunter replies, "no, No Emerald this is real, you are...." Emerald feels her wound closing as her body restitching itself back together as life rushes back through her soul as she also feels the warmth which travels not one arm but both and down her back. Hunter says, "Emerald, your Dragon's Mark it's complete." Emerald looks down and sure enough Hunter's beautiful and familiar mark swirls down both of her arm and spine as she says, "Hunter...it's... a miracle." He pulls her close again his eyes sparkling as he says, "you're right, baby" but just as quick as the light appears in his eyes it soon falters as a church bell tolls in the distance; Hunter chokes and falls back as Emerald gasp saying, "Hunter? what is it? what's wrong?." Hunter replies, "my powers are restored. And...well.. it's my birthday." 

He looks at her with a heartbreaking smile as he says, "it is me who will be saying farewell to you." Hunter's kiss is like the last flicker of hope in a swallowing darkness which has restored the mark and saved her life, but it has also restored his fatal curse, and the day has come for it to take his life. Hunter says, "Emerald..." Emerald says, "Hunter!" grabbing his shirt she tugs him into her embrace before hitting the scorched earth as she lays him in her lap. He smiles weakly as all his former strength sapped from him with a single tick of the clock as he says, "sorry I know I told you not to leave me, but... it is me who is going to leave you." Emerald says, "no, you are stronger than this curse and you are not fucking dying on me!." He says,"I don't want to, I want to stay." Emerald says, "then stay, Damn it!." Hunter apologises as Emerald says, "No! you should have just let me die! why did you kiss me?!." Hunter replies, "because I love you, it's as simple as that it is better this way, I can take the curse with me... all of this pain and suffering it will end." Emerald had tears in her eyes saying, "it's only the beginning of my suffering, life will be hell without you." He says, "Emerald..I know this is not fair..," her entire body trembles with grief and anger as Hunter cups her cheek with the softest smile. He slowly gets up saying, "sorry to be selfish but just do this one last thing for me?." Emerald asks, "what is it?." Hunter answers, "kiss me, baby."