Page 91 of Vital Signs

His face went white. "That's not fair."

"Fair? You want to talk about fair? Wright killed Tyler. He's trying to claim his body like property. And you're lecturing me about being reckless?"

"Someone has to think clearly here!"

"Fuck clearly. Fuck thinking. Fuck you!"

"Fuck you!"

We stood nose to nose, both vibrating with rage.

The rage twisted. Became something else. Something hungrier.

I wanted him. Right now. Needed to reclaim what Wright was trying to take from us.

I grabbed his shirt and yanked him toward the door.

"Misha—" Hunter's voice was rough, confused, but he didn't resist.

"Don't talk. Just come with me."

We nearly collided with River in the corridor. His eyes took in my flushed face, Hunter's confused expression, my white-knuckled grip on Hunter's shirt.

His expression shifted from amusement to understanding. "Go," he said quietly. "I'll handle things here."

He understood. This wasn't about sex. This was about survival. About claiming each other before Wright could tear us apart.

"Just walk faster," I growled, shoving through the exit door into the biting cold.

The winter air bit through my shirt. The cold barely registered. All I could process was the terror that had been building since Wright spoke—that I might lose Hunter. Lose this. Lose everything we'd built from the ashes of our trauma.

I dragged Hunter around the side of the building, away from windows and prying eyes, until we were pressed against the cold brick wall in the narrow alley between the funeral home and the neighboring building.

"Misha, what are you—"

I kissed him. Hard. Desperate. Pouring every ounce of rage and fear and need into the press of my mouth against his. He froze for half a second, then kissed me back with equal ferocity,hands fisting in my hair as he spun us around and slammed me against the wall.

The brick was cold and rough against my back, but Hunter was heat and fury and everything I needed. His teeth caught my lower lip, biting down hard enough to make me gasp. I tasted copper, blood mixing with the kiss, and it only made me want him more.

"You're insane," he growled against my mouth.

"He wants to separate us," I said, the words breaking on a sob I hadn't known was coming.

"He can't." Hunter's hands gentled in my hair even as his body stayed pressed against mine. "I won't let him."

"Promise me." I pulled him closer. "Promise you won't let them take me back."

"I promise." His voice turned lethal. "Even if I have to kill him myself."

The words should have terrified me. Instead, they felt like safety. Like home.

We stood there, foreheads pressed together, hearts racing in sync.

"What if this goes wrong?” I murmured.

"Then at least we go down fighting. Together.”

I pulled him closer, hands framing his face. "Together," I promised.