Kell nods, silent as he reels with it, the emptiness where Rhy should be carved like a hole in his chest. "I had to," he says, eking the words out around the lump in his throat. "To save him. I promised him."

Kell draws a deep breath. He's made these justifications a hundred times over. He had to use the stone, only black magic would have saved him, he promised to stand at Rhy's side when he ruled - he had to.

And Rhy is still gone. "Could he come here?" he asks, hating himself a little for asking.