Page 137 of The Last Hope

I tell him it all while holding back tears and snot and I watch as his own eyes glass. He’s quiet. Only asks questions when he needs more pieces. And once the picture is filled in, once it’s all said and done, he wraps his arms around me in a brotherly embrace. One filled with years of love.

And until my dying day, I won’t ever forget the words he spoke.

“It’s good to finally meet you, Court.”

THIRTY-FOUR

Mykal

“I suppose you’ll be telling me I was wrong to touch your face,” I say to Court while I scout our private room for the night, the rich interior of the house barge surprising the lot of us. Considering the outside was rightfully hideous. But this boat had previously been owned by an Influential, keeping the inside clean and decorated.

We divvied up the three rooms. Our cozy corner in the stern has an oak vanity and a double-sized bed, the gold-threaded blanket wrinkle-free. All varnished wooden floors and walls. A fishing net is strung across the ceiling and cradles dozens of nautical-stitched pillows.

More than anything, I like how the good-working walls deaden noise. No yelling Fast-Trackers from outside can be heard, no hostile hollering or railway sounds.

Just the hush of water softly pushing against the barge.

Court leans stiffly against the closet door, his spirits high. Less pressure on his chest, more confidence hoisting his carriage. Earlier, he explained to me how he told Kinden about our link. And then he gave his brother permission to clue in the Soarcastle sisters tonight. There’s a burden gone there, and I’m glad for it. I don’t mind others knowing our secret if Court thinks it’s all right. And he’s more than all right.

Even free from burden, I thought he’d be gravely serious since we’re down to only one orphanage.

And because I touched his face while we’re uncoupled.

No regret gnaws at me. Truth being, I’d do it again.

“You put a knife through someone’s hand,” Court says with the arch of a brow, “and you think the problem I’d have is with you holding my face?”

A smile pulls up the corner of my mouth, and I rest my ass on the vanity across from him. “Yeh. You like when I protect you. Makes you feel all warm inside.”

He rolls his grim grays, but they land strongly on my hard-hearted eyes. “I also love when you hold me.”

Our cracked hearts mend on each powerful thud.

And thud.

And thud.

No anguish tethered between us, and my smile widens. There’s no one around that we have to hide our connection from.

“I’ll be touching your face then,” I say. “Right now.” I wait to feel his emotion.

Brightness floods his lungs, and I step off the vanity.

Thud.

Thud.

Court comes forward. We meet in the middle, eager energy teeming my veins. His veins. I tap his foot and our legs knock together.

He breathes deeper.

The Grenpalish in me takes over. I nudge his cheek. I lightly push his shoulder.

His head sways like a breeze, and his lips lift in a beautiful budding smile. Swelling my heart to the size of mountains.

And then I cup his face between my two callused hands. “I don’t want to be pulling apart any longer,” I whisper huskily. “Do you?”

Court clutches the nape of my neck, our breath at the same heady pace. He shakes his head. “Ineverwanted that, Mykal… but it felt like the only way.” He swallows hard. “We can be together again, now that my brother knows. We’ll just be careful while we’re in the city.”