Red and blotchy from the exertion, I didn’t even attempt to seduce him for a make-out session. And I learned a valuable lesson about endurance and reaching my end goal. One he drove home repeatedly as we walked back to Pendragon.
“You can’t wait until it’s that hard to breathe to use your inhaler, even if you feel like you’re losing your lead or traction you’ve gained on one of the other girls. The Final Trial isn’t a race to finish with the best time. You just have to reach the end. And making it there won’t matter if, when you do, you’re too out of breath to get your inhaler and end up passing out.”
He pushed my hair out of my face, sweeping strands that had dislodged from my ponytail back up and re-tying my elastic. Concern in his eyes assured me he didn’t lecture to condescend, only because he cared.
Regardless, frustration seeped through as my adrenaline faded. “I hate that I can’t do this without it.”
Stroking my cheek with his thumb, the corner of his mouth tipped up. “It’s okay to need things. To not be able to do everything on your own. And this? You’re using it the way you’re supposed to now. It’s a part of you. Embracing it will keep you safe. Pushing back…isn’t always the best approach.”
“So, what? I just need to accept it?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes, that takes more strength than defiance. And I’m not saying you do nothing. There are other ways to reach your goal. Ways that might take longer, but getting there in the end, that’s what matters, right?”
“I feel like you’re talking to me about Max without talking to me about Max.” I harrumphed and sat down on the ground like an adult, not quite ready to stop fighting and leave it in the hands of fate. “But no one has fought for him. Or protected him. And he deserves that.”
“I’m not saying he doesn’t. I’m just…” He sighed and sat down beside me. “I don’t wantyouto get hurt.”
“Max isn’t going to hurt me.”
“I know that. I’m not talking about Max.”
“Then, what are you talking about?”
He took my hand, pulling it into his lap as he laced our fingers. “If Max got into bed with the Valencourts, if they have something on him that’s making him do and say what he is right now? They won’t sit by while you try to break that hold.”
I stood up. “That’s even more reason to fight for him!”
“I know,” he said gently, staring up at me. “Sometimes Kingston’s right, and we have to have faith. So, I’m just asking you to be careful—strategic—in how you approach it. That’s all.”
“Well, good thing I have training with Peter next,” I snapped.“Strategy, here I come.”
My reaction wasn’t fair, but Landon was thinking aboutmeand prioritizing my safety, not Max’s. Max was the one in danger if the Valencourts were as terrible as I suspected. That meant Landon wasn’t being objective, either.
But, as much as I hated to admit it, he wasn’t saying anything untrue.
I sat back down beside him. “I’m sorry. I know you’re worried about me, but I’m safe, Landon. Max is the one who isn’t right now, and it’s hard to leave him like that.”
“I know it is, but…” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in close. “No matter what Max and I may disagree on, one thing I can tell you is that he wouldn’t want anything to happen to you for his sake. Not if he cares about you the way I do. The way I think he does.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Landon shook his head.
“I say that because if it were me in danger and you wanted to risk your life for me? I’dkill himfor letting you.”
Frowning, I glanced away. “Yeah, well, I’d still do it.”
He shot to his feet. “And if I survived and you didn’t? You think I could live with that?”
When I frowned, he leaned down and cupped my face.
“Max would never forgive himself if you got hurt trying to save him. I promise you that. So, instead of tying you to the bed just to keep you safe, I—” Forcing himself to breathe, he pressed a kiss to my forehead before pulling back to stare into my eyes. “Be careful and be strategic. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Okay, I will.”I wrapped my arms around his wrists, trying to ease his concerns once I grasped the weight of them.
When his breathing and mine leveled out, I stood up, and he hugged me. His tight grip gave away how worried he was, so I hugged him back as hard as I could.
“I promise, Buns. You won’t lose me.”
Tension drained slowly, dissipating as we held each other.
