Oh, that was a pleasant thought. In freeing him, she could very well be damning him to an eternity of hell. Shades couldn't eat, couldn't be seen or heard. It was a fate far worse than death.
And she could be the one to gift him with that oh, so not pleasant existence.
Still Rafael's gaze burned into her. "I want to be with you, Celena. As a man."
How could she argue with that? What's more, she wanted it, too. So long as he remained a Dark-Hunter, they couldn't have children. But if she freed him . . .
They could have a family. They could be married and grow old together. It was all she wanted.
"Okay," she breathed. "Tell me what to do."
Acheron pulled a long, evil-looking dagger from his boot and handed it to her. "Pierce his heart and leave the dagger in until he goes limp." He shrugged his black backpack off his shoulder and took out a black box that was about the size of a softball. He opened the lid to show her a vibrant blue stone that was chiseled with intricate markings. It was a strange, compelling object that seemed to hum with life.
She reached for it only to have Acheron move it away.
"Remember, it burns. I'll hand it to you and then you press it to Artemis's mark."
She gulped as she stared at the stone. It was hard to fathom that was Rafael's human soul in there. "Are you sure this works?"
"Kyrian, Talon, Valerius—"
"Okay," she said as Acheron listed off the Dark-Hunters she knew had gone free. "Let's do it."
Rafael pulled his shirt off so that she could see the double bow and arrow mark on his left shoulder.
Her heart pounding, she gripped the dagger tight in her hand and met his obsidian gaze. The love there scorched her.
"You can do it," he whispered. "Just pretend I'm Jeff."
She wanted to laugh at his joke, but she couldn't even muster it. Instead, she ground her teeth and did the hardest thing she'd ever done in her life.
She tried to stab him, but the dagger didn't so much as pierce his skin. Stunned, she tried harder, but still it wouldn't budge. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Acheron grimaced. "Damn. We forgot to drain his Dark-Hunter powers out of him. You can't kill him while he's immortal... at least not and leave his body whole."
"Then what do we do?"
Acheron scratched the back of his neck. "I'm not supposed to interfere, but what the hell? For you two, I'll make an exception."
He took the dagger from her hand and plunged it into Rafael's heart, up to its hilt.
Rafael staggered back before he slid slowly to the floor.
"Oh God," she cried, horrified by what Acheron had done, as she knelt down beside him.
Rafael's face was contorted by pain as a small trickle of blood left the corner of his mouth.
Instinctively, she reached for the dagger to pull it out.
"Not yet," Acheron said, pulling her back. "He has to die or he can't go free."
Tears filled her eyes as she panted along with Rafael. He cupped her cheek in his palm as he offered her a small smile. "It's okay, Celena."
She only hoped he was right.
Covering his hand with hers, she held it tight as she watched the light fade from his eyes. And she gave a small cry as the last breath was expelled from his body.
Acheron took the stone from the box and held it out to her. His swirling silver eyes bore into hers. "Don't drop it."
Nodding, she took it from him only to scream out as a furious pain seared her skin. It burned worse than any imaginable fire and it was all she could do to maintain her hold. The only thing that kept her from releasing it was the knowledge that Rafael would die if she did.
She ground her teeth as Acheron helped her place the stone over the mark. Tears flowed down her cheeks from the pain and fear as she waited for Rafael to open his eyes.
It seemed an eternity had passed before Acheron pulled the dagger out of his chest.
An instant later, Rafael took a deep breath and blinked his eyes open to look at her.
Celena laughed in giddiness as she saw eyes that were no longer black. Now his eyes were a light amber brown that sparkled with human life. He was even more handsome than he'd been before.
Biting her lip, she pulled him into her arms and held him close.
Acheron moved away and returned the dagger to his boot.
"Thanks, boss," Rafael said as he pushed himself to his feet.
Acheron gave him a kind grin. "I'm not your boss anymore, Rafael. She is."
Rafael laughed. "That doesn't bother me."
Acheron snorted. "Yeah, be glad you're human now. Nothing like answering to one single woman for eleven thousand years to make you wish for the end of time."
Celena laughed again. "Thank you, Acheron."
He inclined his head to them. "You kids have fun."
Rafael looked down at the woman in his arms and tightened his hold on her. "Trust me, we will."
And as soon as Acheron was gone, Celena pulled him down for a fierce kiss. Rafael's head swam at the taste of her. It was a taste he would now spend the rest of his life savoring.