Page 34 of Nothing to Lose

We finally reach the end of our path and are forced to either turn right to continue on or go straight up a set of steep stairs.

Eli turns, giving me a little wink, and steps forward. Carefully, we climb the steps, taking flight after flight upward until we reach another door. Eli pulls out the skeleton key, fitting it easily into the lock and turning it. Fuck, I don’t know why it’s so hot watching him do literally anything, but it is. He opens the door, and my mouth drops open as we step inside.

I don’t know what I expected this place to look like, but it wasn’t this. The mausoleum looks like a ceremonial chamber, with five altars all in a semi-circle. The names of each founder are carved into the stone above each one.

Grimsley

Ashcroft

Mortwood

Harrow

Thorne

“Jesus Christ. Is that them?” Eli asks.

“Yeah, I guess so. Weird that they wanted to be buried with each other and not any additional family members.”

“Have you ever looked up their family tree? Wonder if some of them were together.”

“Would make sense. Especially for the time period. And the rumors of how this place was founded and built? It wouldn’t surprise me if they wanted to keep their lines with each other. At least some of them.”

“You’re probably right. Still. Pretty wild to stand here with them all, knowing they’re the reason we were brought together.” My eyes shoot to him, the light streaming through the windows just right, highlighting the sharp features of his face.

“I think we would have found each other even if Corvus never existed.”

“Yeah?”

I take steps in his direction, closing the space between us, until we’re toe-to-toe. I reach out, dragging the back of my knuckles over the soft skin of his cheek. “Yeah, baby boy. I would have found you. Just like I’ll find you in the next life. And the one after that.” I don’t wait for his reply, not wanting to even see the expression on his face. I’m to the point now where I’m so desperately in love with him that I’ve entered self-preservation, an attempt to protect just a piece of my heart from heartbreak. I know I can live without Eli, I just don’t fucking want to.

Our mouths collide in a slow caress, tongues dancing like they’ve done hundreds of times before. Kissing Eli is like finally coming home after being lost at sea. I was floundering before I met him, before he let me in, and now that I know what that sustenance feels like, I want to hang onto it for dear life.

He’s grumpy, and difficult, and stubborn, and a pain in the ass, but he’s also so fucking sweet and caring, and strong-willed, and more focused than anyone I’ve ever met before. He’s hardworking and kind to everyone he meets, and I’m so fucking in love with him, I know I’ll never find anything else like it.

Eli is it for me.

The alarm on my phone buzzes in my pocket, breaking me away from kissing him. He chases my mouth the moment I pull back, just like he always does. I wipe my thumb across his lips, drying them off.

“We’ve got to get back. All teammates have to check in, or we’ll be forfeiting.”

Eli nods, turning to look around for the bell. While he searches, I take a moment to read each of their names again, looking over their final resting spot. It may be morbid as hell, but having Eli in here with me, the outside world locked far away, I get why they closed this place off from it all. It ensured they could all rest without fear of judgement, prying eyes, questions, and being dissected for other people’s understanding. Whatever lives they led, they made sure when it all ended, they would have eternal peace, and that’s something I think we can all hope for.

“Hey, I found it!” Eli shouts from outside the door. I step out, seeing him grinning like an absolute fool. “We’re totally going to win this.”

“We just need to haul ass and get back. Is there another way out? I really don’t want to do all those fucking stairs again.”

“You are literally an athlete. What are you talking about right now?”

“Doesn’t mean I like stairs. Those were a bitch. There’s got to be another way out.”

“Want to jump a fence?”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Not your worst idea, little brother. Not your worst idea at all.”

Eli stuffs the grave bell into his backpack, and we set out on a jog, running through the Corvus Cemetery, a place I’d never thought I’d be inside. I guess today was full of new experiences, actually. I’m just glad they were all with Eli. This weekend was the most fun I’ve had in a long time, but I don’t think it would have been the same if I had been partnered with anyone else. There’s something so easy about being with Eli that makes everything else that much better and easier to enjoy.

Eli and I race over damp fallen leaves, jumping over moss-covered stones that have stood the test of time. The large perimeter gate comes into view, and it’s much taller than I remembered it being. My heart sinks. We don’t have enough time to circle back, and both of us have to make it to the team clubhouse in order for everything to count.