Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 471: Cheating Death

Olivia’s POV

Today was day five, and honestly, I hadn’t seen much change in Lennox since the last time he called my name. But I was still hopeful. We had two more days left, two more chances to bring him back.

The witch had warned me that the fifth night was always the hardest, the night when the spirit began to struggle between staying and returning. So I sat by Lennox’s bedside, not wanting to leave his side.

His face looked peaceful, too peaceful. It scared me.

"Please, Lennox," I whispered, brushing my fingers across his cheek. "Don’t give up on me now."

The witch began her chants, the same low ancient words that made the air tremble. I closed my eyes, holding his hand tightly, and repeated the same prayer I’d whispered every night: "Find your way back to me."

The room felt warmer at first, then suddenly cold. A strange pull began in my chest, like something inside me was being tugged forward, drawn into a place that wasn’t here.

Before I could speak, everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t in the room anymore. I was standing in a forest, but it wasn’t real. The air shined like smoke, and the trees looked like shadows of themselves. Everything felt heavy, quiet, lifeless.

"Lennox?" I called out. My voice echoed far into the mist.

Then I saw him.

He was walking ahead of me, barefoot, shirtless, his figure glowing faintly in the dark. But his eyes... they were empty, like he didn’t see me. He kept moving forward, deeper into the mist, toward a strange light in the distance.

"Lennox!" I ran after him, my feet sinking into the cold ground. "Please stop! It’s me, Olivia!"

He didn’t stop. It was like he couldn’t hear me.

I pushed harder, my chest burning as I tried to reach him. But no matter how close I got, he stayed the same distance away. It was like the world itself was keeping us apart.

Then, suddenly, a shadow moved behind him—tall, dark, formless. It reached for him, its hand curling around his shoulder.

"NO!" I screamed, sprinting forward. I tried to grab him, but my hand went right through him like mist.

He turned then, slowly, and for a second, I saw his eyes again—alive, full of confusion. "Olivia?" he whispered.

Before I could answer, the shadow pulled him back, and everything around me shattered like glass.

covering my skin. The witch was still chanting beside me, but she stopped when

you see?"

fighting," I whispered. "But

is the spirit of death, Olivia. We

stared at Lennox’s still face. What price? What could Death possibly want

I could ask, the door

voice rough with

was there, where he is. But there

there? You entered his spirit

to," I said quietly.

"This has to stop, Olivia. You’re getting weaker every day. Look at you—you’re pale, your pulse

I snapped. "I can handle

full of fear, not anger. "You think we don’t see it? Every drop of blood you give him takes a piece of you! If you keep going,

nodded grimly. "He’s right. The spell is strong, but it’s feeding off your

"I don’t care what it takes. I already lost him once—I’m not

fists. "Olivia, listen to yourself! You’re willing to trade your life for his? What

last word, and then I

him," he whispered. "I’ve already lost one brother,

so quiet, only Lennox’s weak heartbeat and my

don’t want to die," I said softly. "But if saving him costs

his arm, but he pulled back, storming out of the room without

there frozen, still staring at the door

chest ached. The air felt

calm at first,

long moment before turning to me. "You know,"

not

for Lennox. That’s love, I get it. But what about us? What about me? What

voice cracked on that last word, and he took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. "You talk like his life is worth more than ours. But we’re all bound together, the same bond, the same pain. If he

of his words pressing down on

moment, then shook his head. "Sometimes,

walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway

with Lennox’s still body

Maybe I was blinded by my desperation to bring Lennox back. But how could I stop now? How could I give up when

against Lennox’s chest. His heartbeat was weak but steady. That tiny rhythm was my only hope. My hope that