Page 49 of The Silent War

“Because you’re ours,” he said it in a way as if it was still true. “Always were.”

My chest ached—not from the bruises, but from something older. Something I hadn’t let myself feel in years.

I let my hand drop back to the blanket. “You should go home. Shower. Get some sleep.”

His head shook instantly. “No. You’ll leave.”

“I can’t. It’s a hospital.”

“Your brother will take you.”

That was when I saw it, the way his fingers pressed too hard against his thigh, the way his gaze wouldn’t stay still. He wasn’t calm. He was panicked, holding it down, hiding it under control.

Shock, maybe. Or the wreck replaying in his head. I knew one thing: if I had found him in that car, arm jammed under twisted steel, I wouldn’t be okay.

I touched his arm again, softer this time. “Promise me,” Iwhispered. “When Luca comes up, you’ll shower. You’ll take care of yourself.”

I wasn’t naive enough to think if one twin was here, the other wouldn’t be.

His eyes closed briefly. When they opened, they were darker.

I tired to keep my eyes open, my fingers tracing his arm just barely. I wanted to thank him again. Only Bastion would smash through a glass window and act as if it was nothing. I closed my eyes longer than I wanted.

“Promise,” I said. “Promise you’ll take care of yourself.”

I felt his fingers at my temple for a moment, brushing my hair back. The same way he used to when he thought I was asleep at the academy.

“Okay, baby.”

I thought maybe I imagined it. But it followed me into sleep anyway.

Chapter Eighteen

EMILIA

Two days since the accident that Bastion had pulled me from.

I stirred, the IV tugged at my skin. But what really woke me was the weight of being watched.

Luca.

He was in the chair beside my bed. His eyes didn’t move when mine opened.

“You should be home asleep,” I whispered.

“I’d rather watch you sleep.”

I looked down at the sheet, because holding his eyes meant remembering too much. Only for his hand to brush mine.

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore,” I admitted. “But okay.”

He nodded once, then reached for the table. Set down a cup.

“Coffee. The way you like it.”

I wrapped my fingers around it. The first sip made me close my eyes.