I swear under my breath, then take two steps and pull him toward myself by his shoulders.
"All I can promise you is that even if the world threatens to collapse around us every single day, I will do everything I can to keep it from burying us alive. But you need to understand one thing thatsets us apart. For all those years,hopewas all you had. I hadnothingto hope for. I need to catch up, Alex."
Alex slowly raises his hand and touches my face, his lips trembling, his eyes wet.
"Okay. So we take it step by step. We fight together, we build a life together, brick by brick, creating peaceful days. I choose to believe they will come. Do you?"
I squeeze my eyes shut as a vague shadow slides across my vision.
"Not today; one more thing is coming."
He blinks. "What?"
"But I hope it’sthe last. This time, I’m on the hope train too," I say with a small, sad smile and…
Just then, there is a knock at the door.
Alex freezes at once, his face turning pale. I can see the stress ignite inside him.
Silently I turn my head toward the sound and walk to the door. Whatever this is, I need to face it.
I check the video intercom and see a man I don’t recognize.
Normally, I’d just open the door, but this time I answer through the speaker,
"Yes?"
"Good morning, I’m Detective Arnold from—"
I release the button and turn to Alex.
He stares at me, so pale I fear he might faint. His hands tremble, his lips nearly blue. I can almost feel it, running through the energetic threads connecting us in our TM Bond: a wave of panic rising within him.
I walk up to him and cup his face in my hands.
"Now, I fight. You wanted me to push for things I want. So now’s the time to test it," I speak in a lowered voice.
He nods.
"Do it. Do the right thing!"
"This is very important, Alex. You need to stay completely calm and not give anything away. Calm, you hear me? Calm and relaxed. Calm and composed."
"What if they have evidence—"
"Stop. Focus. All is under control."
I narrow my eyes on his face, zeroing in on his pupils.
"Relax, Alex," I whisper so quietly he has to really listen to even hear me.
My energy influences him, I can sense it.
"Think clearly. We’re True Mates. We can’t be separated, the law protects us. That gives us an entirely new angle for defense," I say, keeping a razor-sharp focus on him and… I can sense the steady shift in him, as if my reassurance is enough.
He nods and whispers,
"Okay. I’ll try to act normal."
