Page 27

Say it, Khalani.

Just say it and walk away.

Even if they loathed each other, Takeshi had risked his life for her. Two simple words, and then she could return to blissfully ignoring him, just like he’d done most of their journey.

She took a deep breath. “I came to say thank you.”

Takeshi recoiled as if she’d struck him. His brows furrowed, like he didn’t know how to respond, but he quickly composed himself and nodded. “You’re welcome.”

“But I still don’t like you,” she added, more as a reminder to herself

He snorted and rolled his eyes. “The feeling is mutual, Kanes.”

Oddly, her chest felt lighter.

His body seemed more relaxed too. The lines in his forehead smoothed out and Takeshi’s shoulders slowly eased their coiled tension.

As if they both found comfort in their disdained banter.

“You should get some rest.” He dismissed her in a low voice when they didn’t speak for a few seconds.

Despite his statement, his gaze drew her in like he wanted something more.

Khalani hesitated, her feet feeling glued to the floor. But she nodded, forcing herself to turn and escape, listening to her brain for once.

The raging winds continued to batter the building, and Khalani cuddled with Serene and Winnie against the wall, using their backpacks as rough pillows. Adan and Derek slept on either side of them, while Brock took post by the door.

Takeshi was in the far corner of the room, blending with the shadows, where he was most comfortable.

With her back against Serene, she kept staring at Winnie.

She noticed Winnie’s appetite had been steadily waning.

The glazed look in her eyes was becoming more pronounced, and her voice had grown weaker by the second.

Winnie wasn’t getting better.

She was growing decidedly worse.

The thought made her stomach clench, and she had to steady her suddenly quickened breathing.

Khalani didn’t sleep that night. A strange part of her yearned to venture out into the storm and let the sand cloak her body.

Not because she wanted to die.

She missed being okay with loneliness.

6

If there’s one thing humans love to do,

it’s make the same mistake twice.

When Khalani was six, she asked her father what rain was.

“Did you learn that word in school today?” he asked, turning on the lamp next to her bed.

“Mr. Sanders talked about it in farming class today. He said water used to pour from the sky so all the plants and flowers would grow. Is that true, Papa?”