King," Selene whispered, star

panic in his eyes. "What does

"It's already too late. The ma

his chest. "I can feel

voice shaking. "Stay with me, Isa

h fear. "It's... too st

The curse is taking over his body. Soon, t

ghtened. "No. I won

g through him. "I... I do

Alistair promised, thoug

ith sorrow. "There's only one way to stop t

desperation in his voice

itual... but it's powerful, an

trembling. "Sacrifice? W

fe must be given in exchan

ened. "No. There ha

body convulsing. "I...

ice hard. "We're not sacrificing

save him. If we don't do the ritual, the Wrait

eavier. "I can... feel h

houlder. "Stay with me, Is

is eyes. "You... you should leave m

firm. "No. I'm not

don't understand... the Wraith K

tair. The Wraith King won't stop until he has control over Isaac

mind racing. "I'm not letting him

. "Alistair... you nee

s anger rising. "I won't l

ng with pain. "It's... better if you

"We have to make a decision now. The c

There must be another way.

hisper. "I can feel him... i

but the thought of sacrificing another life made his stom

, Alistair. The Wraith King is already takin

is eyes wild with fear. "It's h

rs, trying to steady him. "S

y trembling. "I... I c

ng. "We have to do the ritual. It's the on

nd and the terrible cost of the ritual. "There has

pain. "He's... inside me. Al

istair shouted. "We'r

aker. "You can't save

istair, if we don't act now,

ac, his heart breaking

s chest. "It's... it's too

ened. "No. We'll stop

eathing shallow. "You... you have

d, tears burning his e

ate. "Please... don't le

we have to decide now. The Wraith King's power is

his heart heavy. "We can'

rely audible. "Alistair... it's better

his voice trembling. "I'm not

or a moment. Then, suddenly, he gasped, his e

m with surpri

, his voice filled with terro

s heart pounding.

eyes wild. "The Wraith Kin

y going limp as the dark mark spread ac

d in horror, h

The Wraith King has marked

in his throat. The Wraith