Page 53

Marin

Gavin's clothes were torn, streaked with blood and dust. He stood still, like one of those brutal stone creatures we'd fought, staring at me with a look that could have melted the rock beneath my feet.

“Marin,” he whispered. Just my name, nothing else.

He staggered forward, unsteady as if he was dying of thirst, and I was a mirage in this endless desert of ruin, and reaching for me might make me disappear. His hand hovered in the space between us, almost afraid to dare.

A sob hitched in my throat, and I ran. I collided with him hard enough to knock the air from both of our lungs. Gavin caught me, his arms snapping around my waist, crushing me into him.

He buried his face in my neck. I felt him shudder. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was both of us, shaking from terror and relief, from the only miracle that had ever come out of this maze.

“You fell,” he rasped against my skin. “You died. ” His voice cracked apart. “I was coming for you anyway.”

So reckless. So Gavin.

“I will always come for you,” he vowed, catching my face in his hands and fusing his mouth to mine, kissing me like he could erase the last hours, the last years—taking us right back to that very first moment when he'd slipped his foot over a jewel.

As if we could rewrite our history with only love and no pain.

He urged me backward until there was nothing behind me but stone, and nothing else but him, kissing me like he was done losing me.

And still…

It shattered something inside my heart because there wasn’t a choice after what I’d seen in the mirror. He was back, but he couldn’t stay. And I couldn’t let him. Because I was done, too. One of us was getting out of this hunt alive, and I already knew it wasn’t going to be me.

My fingers trembled as the plan formed, quick as lightning. Invisible chains this time. A heist of opportunity, Gavin wouldn’t see coming.

I pressed my hands against his chest to steady them and kissed him harder. Giving him everything in my heart, because this was the last kiss.

The one that ended us.

Slowly, I slid my hands to his waist, heart pounding in my ears as I dipped my fingers into his satchel, brushing against the leather pouch containing his cloud token. A whimper burned in my throat as I tucked it swiftly next to mine.

Gavin didn’t notice. He never saw it coming. I was too quick, and he hadn’t seen the visions, had no reason to distrust me. That’s what made it so unbearable. I’d meant what I said before: I could pick his pocket, anytime, anywhere. I just never imagined it would break my heart.

“You’re bleeding. I need to see your arm,” he rasped against my lips.

“You have to stop kissing me first.”

A discontented growl rumbled in his throat. “Always asking me to do impossible things. ”

Another shard of glass buried itself in my chest. I wasn’t done asking.

“Then don’t stop. It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Just a little longer… let’s stay like this, in this moment, where I don’t have to let you go yet.

His rough fingers caught my chin, tilting my face until I was forced to meet his gaze.

“I’ll decide when you’re fine, Mare.”

I smiled despite myself—despite the way it felt painted on, like the thinnest layer, and any moment he might see beneath it and know what I’d done.

“Still dominant as ever, I see. I thought maybe the monsters had knocked it out of you.”

“They tried. Got my cutlass instead. But the rest of me? I’m way too stubborn. You’re stuck with it—with me.”

My smile faltered. I’ll miss it—you.

I swallowed hard. “I found your cutlass. I believe I told you once that I'm no damsel, however, it's not very gentlemanly of you to make me lug it through the clouds.”

His thumb brushed across my cheek. “No, you're the hero. If anyone's distressed, it's me.” Gavin winced, his gaze sliding to the fabric knotted around my arm. “I taught you better than that. It’s soaked through. You need to tie it tighter, or the bleeding won’t stop.”

“It’s hard to do one-handed,” I grumbled. “And I did just fine on my own before you.” I waved my elbows. “See, I still have two of them. And all of my fingers. Some would say I’m highly capable, even a master of my craft.”

Gavin frowned. He didn’t even bother challenging me on my bold statement. He only pointed out what he saw as the glaring flaw .

“Before me, huh? Say that again, and see what happens.”

I went up on my toes and brushed my lips against his. “Just fix it before I’m delirious from blood loss and start saying crazy things like how much I like all of your aggravating attention.”

His smirk carved across his lips as he gently unknotted my sleeve. “I haven’t even tried to be aggravating today. Must be a natural charm. Hold still.”

He splashed some water from his flask on my arm, washing away the blood and dirt.

I hissed in a breath, eyes watering. It was silly to tend to a wound when my lifespan was counted in hours, not years. But I played along. Because I really did enjoy the attention, and I wanted to savor it.

“What happened after you fell?” he asked, wrapping a clean bandage from his pack around the cuts.

“I got lucky. Saved by moss.”

“Moss?”

“What can I say? First the sap, then the moss. The plants in the sky love me. Cass would be jealous.” I forced another wobbly smile. “I may never leave.”

Gavin tightened the knot around my arm with enough force to finally stop the bleeding. I sucked in a breath from the pain, blinking against the sting in my eyes. But this time, he didn’t tease. His palm cupped the back of my neck, his features etched in something unshakable.

“We are leaving. Let’s get the shard and go home.”

Home.

The word speared through me, sharp and cruel because I wanted it. More than I’d ever let myself admit before. More than anything.

I nodded. “Lead the way, partner.”