Page 84

Errant sprays of water against my face mingle with the tears already gathered in my eyes.

With a solemn glance over his shoulder, his eyes silently profess the guilt that must be tearing him up inside. He turns slowly, gaze dipping toward my body, as I reach out to touch his scars.

He swipes up my hand before I reach him, pulling me inside, but I move behind him. Hard leathery skin, weathered by horrific retribution, slips past my fingertips. So many scars, there isn’t an inch of his skin left unmarked. Yet, the surface of his flesh is somehow stronger because of his wounds, hardened by them.

“My punishment for escaping.”

“There are so many.”

“I’d have taken a thousand more lashes, to know you were safe.”

I let the gravity of his words bleed into my skin, and press my cheek against his back, closing my eyes, as I wrap my arms around him. “I will never let you suffer again, Valdys. Never.”

Tugging my arm, he pulls me around to his front and backs me into the wall, crushing his lips to mine. The cold tiles pressing against my spine fail to cool the heat of his wet lips that devour mine. I slide my arms around his neck, and he lifts me into his arms. Holding me against the wall, he buries his face in my neck as the water cascades down our bodies. In the safety of his embrace, my body comes alive, as if I’ve been dead inside for months.

The world around us disappears. Like falling beneath the water’s surface, everything goes mute. Foreheads pressed together, we close our eyes and breathe, holding each other.

And I fall deeper.

Chapter 35

Wren

It’s late by the time we arrive back at the camp. Surprisingly, they didn’t bother to head east, but perhaps they had a bit more faith than the rest of us that we’d return.

I lie beside the fire, running my finger over the bite marks in my flesh that have begun to heal already, while Six gets a briefing from Tripp outside our cave. Rolling onto my back, I place my hands against my belly that still hasn’t yet begun to show, and close my eyes. It doesn’t make any sense. I’ve become infected by a contagion more potent than the one I’ve grown up with my whole life, one I saw tear through children and grown men, while I worked alongside Papa in Calico. And yet, I feel nothing from its effects. I suppose I won’t know for certain whether, or not, it was worth the risk. Only time will tell.

Six ducks as he enters the cave, closing the woven door behind him. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. It doesn’t make any sense. But good.”

“I don’t know much about the science, and maybe it was stupid of me. After he destroyed those samples, though, just seemed like the only way I could save you.”

“How did you know it’d infect him like that?”

Six shrugs, shaking his head. “When we were in the tunnels, waiting for the others, Jed covered his face with his shirt, and used a handkerchief from his bag to lift it out. Figured it must’ve been pretty contagious.”

That must’ve been when Legion came to the door, because I don’t recall seeing him pull the syringes from the bag. “You’re an observant one,” I say, brow kicked up with amusement.

“I’m still baffled by it all, though.”

His lips stretch to a smile, as he removes his shirt, boots and pants, until he’s standing completely naked and glorious in front of me. He slips beneath the thin blanket covering me and pulls me against him. “As long as you’re good, it doesn’t have to make sense.”

“Papa’s journal described your antibody as strong. The strongest of any Alpha’s. He diagrammed it out. That’s why Ericsson was so hellbent on finding you.” Resting my hand against my belly, I give voice to the thoughts that have spun in my head since we left Szolen. “Maybe it’s your baby inside of me that kept me from turning.”

Setting his hand over mine, he kisses along my neck. “My baby is strong. That ancient contagion doesn’t stand a chance.”

His comment brings a smile to my face, but it quickly fades at the realization of what all of this has cost us. Our hive. Our family. “You told Tripp about Tinker and Ratchett?”

“Yes.” He sighs and leaves a kiss to my shoulder. “It’s been a long time since I felt helpless like that. I remember when Tripp first found me, Tinker didn’t trust me. He and Ratchett would stand guard, watching me. Waiting for me to go ballistic, or something, and kill everyone.” He strokes a finger down my skin as he stares off. “They eventually got bored of watching me day in and day out, and we’d play cards, or dice. After a while, we became pretty close. All three of us. Always had each other’s backs when we’d go after Legion.”

“I’m so sorry, Six.” Turning into his body, I wrap my arm across his stomach and tuck my head against his chest, closing my eyes to the tears. Though I didn’t know either of them very well, it just doesn’t seem right that ones so kind, so protective of those they cared about, suffered such a horrible fate. “They were good men. The best.”

I can’t begin to imagine what Cali must be feeling, having to leave behind her friend in that place, as well. Perhaps, in time, we’ll find peace, but tonight, we mourn those who were stolen from us. “I know you’re going to tell me not to, but--”

“Stop. Don’t even say it. They didn’t die because of you. They died because they made a choice to go down there. Nobody was forced.”

“It better work. It better be what saves this baby. I can’t live with the alternative.”