Page 192 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

But if he goes… he has this feeling he might not come back.

And he doesn’t want that.

He wants to stay.

He can’t die.

It’s such a waste.

‘Bodyguard,’ he calls out weakly, trying to raise his hand.

‘I’m here, Kade. I’m right here.’

‘I can’t… there was s-something I… forgot.’

‘Don’t worry about that now, OK? You just need to focus on—’

‘Your blood,’ he says, seeing rainbows in the lights. ‘Your heart…’ Every word hurts to say, but he has to say them. ‘It… it’s mine.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Mine… it’s… m-my blood too.’

‘Keep the drain open. We’re moving him now. Sir, you need to step back.’

‘He’s trying to tell me something.’

‘He’s becoming altered—’

‘No, he’s not! Baby. Jules, look at me. Will my blood help?’

Kade manages a weak nod.

‘Take my blood to give him.’

‘Absolutely not,’ Noah says from across the room. ‘Kade has an extremely rare blood phenotype. He’s restricted to autologous units.’

‘He can swallow it.’

‘Move away from my patient right now.’

‘He’s dying!’ Lachlan yells. ‘Look at him!’

‘We’re doing everything we can—’

Something clatters to the ground. Kade can’t see the commotion, but he knows it’s Lachlan.

‘Harker! Look at me!’

‘Don’t touch him without gloves on!’

‘I’m giving you my blood because you’re the one whose death is killing him, do you understand?’

Two people are shouting at Lachlan to get on the ground. Kade wishes he could see, but the Tower has become an ocean of liquid rainbows.

‘Tanner, drop the knife.’

‘I’m trying to save them both!’