Control.
Six out.
Control, Ash.
I could repeat it a thousand times. I already have. But the words hit hollow.
Now that my arms feel empty. Now that I know what her warm breath feels like against my chest.
I swallow hard. “All I ever wanted was a quiet life. To be left alone. Seventy-three years old without meddling in other’sbusiness. Without getting in the way. Live and let live. My motto… until—” I stop short. I can’t say the last part.
“Until?”
I shake my head, working the ground in front of her again.
“And all I wanted was to do research.Notget guarded constantly by my grandpa’s immortal bestie. I told you to leave me alone. You refused. Youcausedthis.”
I step closer with a snort, towering over her now. “Icaused this?”
My eyes stray to the range where the dark clouds already form. This will be a bad one if it’s anything like the tension building behind my sternum.
“You think I can control this?”
A puff of air escapes her lips. “So, you’re fighting it, too?”
“More than you can imagine,” I grunt.
Her mouth firms. “Good. It’s the only way. The only thing that makes sense.”
That knocks the wind out of my chest. “The only way,” I say softer, voice throbbing though I work to control it.
She nods firmly, casting her eyes to the ground. “Because this…” She’s talking with her hands now. “Thiscan never be.”
“Because I’m different?” It comes out before I can stop it. “Inhuman?”
Her voice catches. “No… becausethiscan’t exist. It’s simply—” She searches for the words. “Impossible.”
My eyes narrow as the wind picks up, shoving dust into the air. I draw closer, shielding her against the sandblast with my body. “A hallucination, then?”
Her throat works once. Her eyes drop to my mouth.
Anticipation curls low. I tighten my gut, reach for restraint.
That’s when the rain starts, a soft patter, warm on my cheeks and in my hair.
We both stand frozen. Only breath moving between us.
“More like…” Her voice dies away. Then, returns thrumming, “A fever dream.”
The words land harder than I expect.
I rub a hand over my jaw, feeling rough stubble.
Four in.
Six out.
Pressure builds at the base of my spine. Familiar. Needy.
