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“I’ll explain. Tell them we’re coming.” Erik pushes the door shut.
“Get dressed. I’ll tell you on the way down,” he says, handing me a boot.
“Tell me now.”
“Please,” he says, turning the full force of his blue eyes on me.
I make a face at him, but pull on the boot like he asked.
Before I can open the door, Erik grabs me and pulls me to him. “I have a feeling I won’t have many chances to do this soon.”
His lips press into mine, igniting a fire in my chest. I want to stay here, pressed close to him. When he pulls back, we linger in the moment, looking into each other’s eyes.
“‘Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom,’” he whispers, quoting the sonnet we’d read together on Earth. It seems like a lifetime has passed since that night.
“Is that your idea of a pep talk?” I ask.
Erik’s lips curve into an almost-grin. “I just want you to remember that.”
“Always,” I say. He leaves one more soft kiss on my lips, but then we have to go.
In the corridors, people rush past us with bags and folders.
“What’s going on?” I ask Erik with dread.
“Come on.” He grabs my hand and we race back to the strategy room. As soon as we’re through the door, he drops my hand, shooting me an apologetic look. I wink at him.
“Gross,” Falon says.
“Good to see you again.” I smile sweetly at her, but then my gaze lands on the woman behind her.
“What are you doing here?” I demand.
“Nice to see you, too,” Alixandra says. “I’m sorry to interrupt your honeymoon.”
I blush furiously at this but keep myself otherwise composed. “Let’s try this again. What’s stopping me from ripping you in half?”
“Remind me not to save your life in the future.” Alixandra glares back at me.
“Will someone explain what in Arras she’s doing here?”
“I thought you were going to tell her,” Jost says to his brother.
“We were … preoccupied,” Erik says.
Dante covers his eyes and turns away from us. “I don’t need to hear about this.”
“We were talking,” Erik says.
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Falon asks.
“You!” Dante points at her. “Cut it out.”
“I was under the impression that there was an emergency,” I remind everyone.
“And you are right, dear girl,” Albert says, shuffling into the room with Jax’s help. I can’t help but notice that Albert is looking worse than yesterday. As though all his stolen years were catching up with him at once. “But young love is equally thrilling, I think.”
Erik’s hand flies to his mouth and I know he’s covering a smirk. I smack him on the shoulder. “Get serious.”
