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each other’s body. Once again, I had to swallow my revulsion. As the two figures tumbled to the floor lovingly, I closed my eyes.
    ‚If you performed such a trick for anyone else, you would be burned as a witch,'
    Arthur said calmly as we watched the illusion fade away. ‚Would you risk that?'
    She laughed once again, a chilling, horrible sound. ‚You have no idea of the lengths I would go,' she replied.
    Arthur’s shoulders slumped. There was no doubting the determined, unhinged look on Morgan’s face.
    ‚What do you want from me?' he asked dejectedly.
    ‚I’ll get back to you on that,' she promised. ‚Trust me.'
    And she was gone. I glanced up and down the hall, but she had simply disappeared. I sighed. I still hated it when people did that. It was unsettling.
    Arthur leaned against the wall for a moment, drawing in deep breaths and I found myself desperately wanting to hug him. He had been instantly immersed in madness and treachery. Most mortals would lose their minds. But he was strong and I watched him square his shoulders as he returned to his bedchambers.
    I was just about to turn away as well and creep back to my own chambers, when I felt someone’s stare between my shoulder blades.
    I turned and found Merlin, the king’s oldest advisor, standing in another darkened alcove. I could tell from his face that he had witnessed the same thing that I had. His wizened face was blank, but his eyes were bothered. And his eyes are what held me tightly to the ground- they were jet black and glittering from the shadows.
    They were eyes that I had seen a thousand times before.
    He was Ahmose.
    Courtney Cole 25
    With My Last Breath, Book Three

Chapter Five
    I almost moved to meet him at goddess speed, but reminded myself that he didn’t know that I was now aware of who I truly was. It was difficult, but I forced my feet to walk at the slower mortal pace, meeting him in the middle of the great hall. The last time I had seen him had been when the Fates had tortured him to his death, something that he was not aware of now. It was mind bending.
    ‚My lady,' he nodded curtly. ‚What brings you out at this hour?'
    ‚I couldn’t sleep, Ahmose,' I murmured.
    ‚Never call me that here,' he reprimanded sternly. ‚You know that I am Merlin.
    Do not be so careless, Heleyne.'
    On his face, I saw almost fatherly concern and I wished that I had noticed it in other lives. I had always been annoyed by him, by his vague answers to my questions. I never knew that that he had been a simple pawn to the Fates. None of it had been his fault… and he had eventually given his life to save me.
    I swallowed hard.
    ‚What troubles you?' he asked. ‚Is everything well with Lucan? With the queen?'
    I nodded. ‚Everything is well,' I whispered.
    ‚Then why do I see clouds on your face?' he asked. His eyes were razor sharp.
    They missed nothing, a fact that I regretted right now. How was I going to get anything past him? He’d known me for several millennia.
    ‚I’m fine,' I murmured. ‚Just tired.'
    He seemed to consider that, staring at me thoughtfully. I had to admit, it was strange to see him without his customary dark robes. As Merlin, he was wearing typical woolen pants, an embroidered shirt and a simple cloak. His ancient face was free of cosmetics- free from the black eye makeup that he usually favored.
    ‚Things are moving forward,' he observed, his eyes gazing over as he reflected.
    ‚The witch has tricked Arthur. Do you know what to do now?'
    His gaze flickered to the Phoenix birthmark on my wrist. For thousands of years, the Fates had allowed me to believe that it marked me as a Keeper for them, meaning that I was meant to keep their grand plans. But in reality, it marked me as the Chosen One, the one who would eventually right the wrongs of Fate. I had only discovered this recently, after Ahmose had died.
    I nodded. I did remember from my first time here.
    ‚Yes. Guinevere must draw closer to Lancelot. I don’t think