Page 25

Whenever Takeshi turned his gaze to her, it torched her skin like a brand. His black eyes were either laced with indifference, frigidity, or an inexplicable emotion that made her do a double take.

Khalani’s chest felt like it was bottoming out as the unthinkable truth stood before her.

Takeshi saved her.

He turned back for her without hesitation, risking his own life in the process. Why?

Maybe it was out of spite. To make her suffer through life a little longer.

That line of reasoning made her more comfortable.

When he finished wrapping Winnie’s ankle, Takeshi stood and marched toward Brock. His long legs swallowed the space, and both men talked in heated whispers, sporting minor cuts on their lips and cheeks from their earlier fight.

She was suddenly knocked over as a small figure barreled into her.

“Don’t you dare come that close to dying again,” Serene exclaimed.

Khalani wrapped her arms around her, squeezing just astightly, a slight tremor quaking through her limbs.

Serene nearly died turning back for her. They all did. She wanted to scream and throttle her, but Khalani just bent her head into the crook of Serene’s neck, the massive knot in her chest expanding, covering every corner of her fragile heart.

She almost forgot what it was like to have people care if she lived or died.

“You okay, Khalani?” Adan crouched next to her, his concerned eyes focusing on her sandy face.

“I’ll survive,” she croaked, though another squeeze from Serene might prove otherwise.

“You’re not allowed to die without me,” Serene grumbled, still holding onto her tightly. “And dying from sand? That would’ve been a pitiful way to go out.”

“I’ll be sure to remember that next time.”

After a minute, Serene finally loosened her grip, and Brock broke away from an irate Takeshi and strode toward them.

“The storm will take hours to pass. We’ll shelter here for the night.”

“Are you sure this building’s safe?” Derek asked.

“Positive.”

As if on cue, a large gust of wind slammed into the decrepit building, and the questionably stable walls shook. Dust fell as the grey ceiling trembled above them. They all snapped incredulous gazes at Brock, and he held his hands up.

“If you want to test your luck outside, be my guest.”

The wind howled louder in response, and they sighed in defeat.

“Is being flattened by a building a better way to go?” Khalani joked weakly, tying her sandy hair into a messy ponytail. The tangled strands felt like they harbored a rat’s nest.

Serene looked up thoughtfully. “Killed by an inanimate object is also a paltry way to die. Points for respect though if our bodiesget squished like dough.”

“You’re seriously demented.” Brock shook his head at Serene.

“I think that’s the first genuine compliment you’ve given me.”

“Wasn’t meant as one.”

“Even better.”

Khalani quickly passed Brock the gun he’d given her before the fight, leaving them to it. She walked over to Winnie, who was slumped against a pillar with her tired legs stretched out.