“Okay, well, I’ll leave you to it…” Grayson’s gaze lingered on mine.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked as he was about to leave. “Why are you helping them?”
“I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing it foryou, Gemma.” He paused. “Story wanted me to tell you that you still have to be Sonnet’s godmother. Whatever happens.”
With that, Grayson left.
Realization settled heavy in my blood. This was our last chance, and weblewit.
“We can still go and catch him,” I said.
Grim turned to the Horsemen. “One hour.”
“Stop fucking ignoring me!” My scream pierced the night. “We can’t just let him go!”
In response, Grim dragged me to him, pinning me against his chest even with a bullet wound.
“We have to go,” I insisted. “We have to find him.”
Grim massaged his hand in my hair, rubbing my scalp, soothing me. He ever so softly pressed at my skull, fingering for bruises. I knew he was trying to calm me, take my mind off the very real fact that we hadlost.Even still, I melted.
Grim looked over my head at the Horsemen, exchanging a silent conversation, and then they left.
We were alone on the beach.
Grim rubbed my back. Gentle. Soothingme, even though I wasn’t the one with a gunshot.
We have to go.
We have to go.
“You need a doctor,” I mumbled against his chest.
Grim pulled back just enough so I could see his eyes, which were a heady mix of fire and ash, like a phoenix rising. Burning. Smoldering. Finality in the dark depths.
This was not Grim, this was the Reaper.
Now I had goose bumps.
Now I couldn’t breathe.
When strangers had tried to kill me, I was bored. With that look in Grim’s eyes?
Fucking terrified.
Grim gripped the back of my neck, dragging me to him. “I needyou.”
FIFTY-TWO
GEMMA
Grim kissed me rough, desperate, edged. The world narrowed to the reckless space between our mouths, breath stuttering, teeth knocking. He gripped my face like he needed to feel my pulse under his palms.
“You need a doctor,” I said as he broke to trail kisses down my neck. “You need?—”
His lips found mine again, stifling my protests.
“Please,” I gasped against his mouth. “I can’t lose you.”
