Page 288 of The Gods Order

“Thank you,” I breathe.

He nods, refusing to meet my eyes. Yemi lets out another broken sob, her hands never leaving the wound.

“Stay with me,” she begs.

“I’m here.”

“Please.”

My fingers search for hers and she catches my hand before it can fall. I squeeze as hard as I can.

“Yem…I love you.”

The words are barely more than air.

She freezes.

For one impossible heartbeat, everything else disappears from her face. The fear. The panic. The desperation. Only disbelief remains.

Fresh tears spill over her cheeks.

“No,” she whispers, clutching my hand so tightly it almost hurts. “You fucking asshole. You don’t get to finally say it back to me like this.”

“Should’ve said it before now,” I whisper. “I do love you.”

Her forehead drops against her hands and sobs tear through her.

A shadow casts over her, and my head slowly pivots. Stunning white wings spread out, sending a gust of air around us that silences everything. The beautiful limbs disappear as fast as they appeared as feet crash against the ground.

“No.” My dad hits his knees beside Yemi, shaking his head. “My shooting star.”

“H-hey, Dad,” I stutter.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” he says, but the tears in his eyes tell me otherwise.

“I-I need a favor.”

“Anything, my girl.”

“My men. Seismet. Everyone.”

He nods, closing his eyes. Tears slip down his cheeks. The sight kills me, so I pull my gaze away.

The fluffy white clouds are beautiful.

I wish I could’ve touched them once.

“Seismet. What do the clouds feel like?”

My mental voice sounds stronger than my real one.

“Like freedom, my companion.”

“I’d like to fly there.”

“We will. We will fly high together.”

“Take care of V and Lestari.”