Chapter 47
Jordan
We’ve nearly reached her safe zone. My time is up.
The beast paces back and forth, not wanting to do this. I feel like I’m being shredded apart from the inside.
As we move down empty alleyways, I try to stop myself from chickening out. This is what’s best. She needs to do this, and I can’t drag her down with me.
“That’s the entrance.” Kate points at the large, ominous building.
A lump forms in my throat but I force it down. “This is where I leave you.”
She bites her bottom lip, eyes growing anxious before she says, “You’ll be close by, right?”
“I couldn’t leave you, even if I wanted to,” I admit, my voice a pathetic whisper. I grab her hand and place a gentle kiss to the inside of her wrist. “Go and work on the cure. Go and save the world like you were meant to.”
Emotions threaten to rise up if I say any more, so I pull her closer and press my forehead to hers.
“Stay safe, okay?” Her lower lip trembles, even though this isn’t goodbye.
“I will,” I promise.
She pulls back, tears filling her eyes as we fully separate.
It feels like my heart is cracking open. “Thank you for making me feel alive.” For being worth living for.
Kate pauses, taking me in, her face looking devastatingly heartbroken as she looks like she wants to say something. I stand on pins and needles, hoping to hear her feelings mirror my own.
But she doesn’t. Instead, she places her lips against mine.
I let myself savor it, savor her, one last time, even as the desire to tell her that I think I love her nearly eats me alive.
Reluctantly, I drop my hands and step back, holding the tears back. We hold each other’s gazes, as if we could stop time and stay together for eternity, but we can’t.
Kate wipes her own tears and, with a shaky inhale, turns and strides toward her zone.
I watch her go, her back getting smaller until she reaches the entrance.
She doesn’t look back.
My shoulders slump and I turn, ready to find a quiet place to hide out in, when I feel eyes on me.
Danger, the beast roars. We’re in danger. Move!
Before I can blink, something crashes into the side of my head and everything goes dark.