Page 246 of Lethal King

“More beautiful than I could have dreamed.”

“You’re so cheesy when you’re hurt,” she laughs, rolling her eyes.

For a moment, we just stare at each other. Then, I remember something. Something mind-blowing. Something that fills my aching heart with a morphine-like calm.

“You said you loved me.”

“Only because I thought you were about to die,” Roz is quick to reply.

“And now?”

“I stick by my words,” she admits, hardly hesitating. “But I’m not saying it again until you’re strong enough to beat me in an arm wrestle.”

“That won’t take long,” I cough, my lungs pounding painfully with every heave.

Releasing my chin, Roz gives my cheek a gentle slap.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it,” she says, some reluctance finally seeping out of her calm façade.

She goes to pull away, but before her hand can leave mine, I wrap my weak fingers around her wrist. It takes all of my strength just to tug her a little, but Rozalia doesn’t resist.

“Don’t go far,” I tell her.

She smiles down at me, her lips pursing.

“I’m not sure your family will let me.”

“They’re keeping you here?”

“They’re strongly suggesting I don’t leave.”

Stars dot my vision as I try to think clearly. My eyelids start to get heavy again.

“And you’re listening to them?”

Scrunching her nose, Roz looks down at her feet. A subtle pink shade flushes her pale cheeks.

“I’m listening to my heart,” she mumbles.

I get to laugh one more time before my eyes fall shut again.

This time, though, I’m not greeted by an indifferent void. No. This time, I’m embraced by a beautiful warmth.

No nightmares haunt me. No emptiness threatens me. No dread drags me down.

The horrors of the past fade away.

A lightness takes its place.

I dream of my future.

A future with her.

It will be there when I wake up.

She will be there when I wake up.

I’m sure of it.