Page 118

“I did—I do.” I muttered a curse before clearing my throat. “It’s exactly what I want.”

“Then enjoy it,” she ordered, giving me her cheery smile. “She would have wanted that.”

She. The girl I loved. The human who was killed in front of me all those years ago. This world that I was helping to build? It had been all I wanted. For her. But she was gone, and I was fucking hollow like I’d been ever since she died.

My jaw clenched, and I stood up, refusing to drown in the past again. Part of the reason I was sitting at this table was to stay busy. To occupy myself enough that I never needed to think of it.

“Come on, Pax,” Viggo called. “We have places to be.”

I was very aware that he’d heard Gia’s words, but my twin wouldn’t speak about it. He never did unless I did first. He felt my pain, there was no reason for him to bring it up.

“I’m coming with you,” Warner announced. “Things are calm here. I can spend a couple days away.”

Viggo side-eyed him before shrugging and striding toward the exit. Gia had warned Viggo to be nice to Warner, and just the sight of Viggo’s face when she told him that, had me chuckling. She didn’t need to threaten or raise her voice. Her word was law,and Viggo knew better than to make her mad. She liked Warner for some fucking reason and wanted to make sure his life here was easy.

“See you later, Gia,” I muttered. “We have a radio in case anything happens.”

“Take your time,” she replied. “I’ll handle things here.”

Chapter 47

Kali

The sun warmed my skin, and I leaned back on my palms, feeling the soft sand between my fingers. There was a slight breeze and a chill in the air, but nothing could ruin my mood when I was on the beach.

“You were supposed to wait for me.”

I giggled when Zan fell to the sand behind me and pulled me until my back was pressed to his chest. I tilted my head when he kissed the top of my shoulder, and his lips trailed up the side of my neck. Goosebumps skated across my skin, my body reacting to his soft touch like it always did.

“You were taking too long,” I teased, letting out a laugh when his hold tightened.

He nipped at my throat. “You were still sleeping when I got into the shower.”

I stared at the crashing waves, inhaling the salty air. “I love it here.”

“We can stay as long as you want.”

Behind us was the small cabin we claimed as our own. We’d been here for a few weeks, and so far, it was my absolute favorite. We’d been traveling ever since the night we nearly died, and Zanhad taken me to all sorts of places. Places filled with beauty I didn’t know existed. But this beach? I would be content to spend forever here. And it was close to home.

“Are you happy, Kali?” he asked in a low voice.

“You know I am.”

He lifted me up, and in a quick move spun me around. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my hands landing on his shoulders. His serious gaze landed on me as I raised an eyebrow.

“I want to make sure that you’re happy.” He studied me curiously. “Living like this—just us. Do you miss anything?”

My heart squeezed at his worry for me. “Zan, this is all I want. To be with you. While making this world a better place.”

“I still have a long list of places I want to take you.”

I laughed lightly. “Why the rush? Don’t we have forever?”

He grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me closer before kissing me. These last six months had been a whirlwind, and it still hadn’t stopped.

The world thought we were dead. Which was what we wanted. What was needed. The blood running through my veins was a weapon. One that had to be protected. The peace we were trying to create wouldn’t happen if one side thought they could claim power. I was keeping the balance and promised myself that no one would ever use me for an agenda again.

Many humans didn’t know what I looked like, and soon those who did would come to an end of their natural lives. My identity—my bloodline—would remain hidden as it was supposed to be.