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“Magnus?” a hesitant voice came from behind him.
Lucretia looked-
She looked terrible. Haggard and leaning so heavily on her staff and old, too old.
Magnus touched a gentle hand to her cheek.
“What happened?” he asked.
“The Animus Bell,” she said. “Barry’s relic. I failed, Magnus, I-”
She collapsed into him and Magnus held her.
“They’re using it to torment people and we did this,” Lucretia said.
Magnus just nodded.
“Kalen?” she asked.
“We never should have let him go free,” Magnus said and Lucretia recoiled at the darkness she’d never heard from him.
“That isn’t you,” Lucretia said. “You thought it was done. You thought you’d protected everyone.”
“And I failed,” Magnus said. “We spent a hundred years running from the Hunger and it won’t give up. I should have known men like him never give up. I should have killed him when I had the chance. Instead, I let him live and I left and all those lives lost are my fault. Julia’s death is my fault.”
“No,” Lucretia said. “It’s not.”
“Davenport and Fisher-”
“With Maureen. I’m sorry, Magnus, I-”
“You were trying to do what you think is right,” Magnus said. “You can’t do this alone, Lucretia.”
“I lost your duck,” Lucretia said. “They took it.”
“I’ll make you a new one. You really think this is the only way to stop it?”
“Yes,” Lucretia said.
“This was her home,” Magnus said. He touched the red scarf around his neck, the one Julia had given him. “Whatever it takes to protect it.”
“You’re sure,” Lucretia said.
“We can’t do it alone,” Magnus said.
“I’ve thought about that.”