Page 96 of Of Blood So Cold

“Hey.” I gently wrap an arm around her middle, careful not to put pressure on the area I’d cut her two days ago, then press a kiss on her temple. “I’m sure he’s relieved, sweetheart, knowing that you’re safe; knowing what he did has kept you alive. Remember that you’re honoring him with every breath you take.”

She turns a little before giving me a small smile. “Thank you,” she mouths, placing a soft kiss on my lips.

I kiss her back. “I gotchu, Little Swan.”

The four of us fall into a comfortable silence, listening to the distant hooting of owls and the occasional chirping of crickets. The air is starting to turn chilly, and helps in soothing my slightly heated skin. Cignette sighs as a strong wave of wind blows by us, scattering the gravel beneath us.

The sharppopof a beer bottle being opened meets my ears, making me look ahead. Varsha hands Alex a bottle, then grabs one for herself before raising it in front of her in a toast. “To Maverick and Jayce,” she announces. “For being selfless bastards who will forever hold a place in our hearts, and our lives.”

“Hell yeah!” Alex raises his bottle, his eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “To Jayce and Mave.”

Cigs and I join them. “To Jayce and Mave,” we say together.

“And to Dorran, who is most definitely going to win his match against Aras this Saturday,” Varsha states.

“YES!” Alex cheers. “To our very own Seth Freakin’ Rollins!”

“But isn’t he awrestler?” Cigs asks.

He shrugs lazily. “Meh, semantics.”

Varsha rolls her eyes at him, but then smirks and places her head on his shoulder. “Never change, Alex,” she says to him. “Never fucking change.”

“Not over anyone’s dead body,” he assures her, then sets his head over hers.

I chuckle, then look down at Cignette when she turns around to mold her body into mine.

“Hey,” she whispers.

I run a knuckle over her smooth cheek. “Hey.”

“I amsoglad you’re here with me right now,” she says. “And I’ll forever be grateful to you for bypassing my mother’s estate security to see me two years ago.”

“I mean, you did owe me money for that battery,” I point out, but only to poke her.

She groans, shoving me in the chest, which makes me grin. “You’re such a prick.”

“Excuseme. For all the distress you put me through, I have the right to taunt you every so often, alright?”

She clicks her tongue as she studies my face. “You’d be a complete catastrophe without me, Ledger,” she remarks, then pats my jaw. “I’ve pretty much saved you from that inflating head of yours, haven’t I?”

I touch the tip of my beer bottle to the base of my throat. “Ofcourseyou have, my Joan of Arc reborn,” I coo – ortryto, at least.

Cignette laughs. “Damn it, Dor, I fucking love you.” She grabs the side of my neck and pulls me down for a kiss.

I laugh against her lips, holding her closer still as I bask in her taste, in her presence. “And I love you, Little Swan. I always will, no matter what.”

I know that I am one lucky motherfucker, because not only did I get tochoosemy family, but I also lucked out in getting the best of it. The one I was born into tore me apart, ripped the very fragment of my childhood and turned it to dust. Meeting Jayce and Solo all those years ago was a true saving grace for me, and it was because of them that I realized how surrounding myself with people who care for me was necessary. It’s a basic need – one every human being deserves to have. While freeing, a life without friends and family isn’t complete. You may think that it is, but trust me when I tell you that you more than deserve someone to be there for you.

Love isn’t pain-free, nor is it fullproof. But unless you put yourself out there and give it a shot – arealone – you won’t know what it’s like to have truly lived. So, take one step at a time and push yourself to try, because in this world, the opportunityfor success is endless. All you gotta do is have faith in yourself as you reach out a hand, and let the road lead you where you’re meant to go. Because youaremeant to be somewhere – more than you might allow yourself to believe.

THE END.