“I… can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” I want to shake him. Why is he always this fucking stubborn? “Take it, take it all.”
“Jos—”
“Don’t you dare argue with me.” Tears burn my eyes, but I barely notice them. “If it will help, take it. I don’t give a fuck about your pride or anything else. I just need you to stay with me. I… I need you.”
He hesitates like he still wants to argue, but then he cups his hand behind my neck and drags me down untilour lips touch. It isn’t passionate or hungry like all the other kisses we’ve shared; it’s slow, careful, sure. As his tongue tangles with mine, I feel the energy leaving me. Like I’m crashing from an adrenaline high, and I’m suddenly ready for a nap.
I summon every ounce of energy I have, pushing it to the forefront, begging him to take more. Whatever he needs, I’ll give him. Whatever it takes to keep him alive.
He saved me when I didn’t know I needed to be saved, and now it’s my turn.
The only thing I can focus on is how much I need him to be okay. How badly I need him to survive. Who would have thought this asshole I couldn’t stand would become I constant in my life I don’t want to live without?
Definitely not me.
My head is swimming, the rooms swaying when I open my eyes again. I’m disoriented, my eyelids impossibly heavy, and muffled voices nearby catch my attention.
“We need to go,” someone barks, but I’m hardly listening. I’m focused on Tobias and the way his eyes are closing. The way his breaths are slowing.
Why are his eyes closed if he just took my energy? Shouldn’t he be awake? Shouldn’t he be okay?
Someone heaves me off the ground, and stars flash in front of my vision.
“Tobias,” I whisper as my body goes limp. It feels like I’m floating away, soaring up to the clouds. My thoughts tangle, and nothing makes sense, but I’m vaguely aware of someone carrying me.
“Joseline.”
The voice is familiar, but I can’t tell who it belongs to. I can’t tell anything as unconsciousness encroaches, eating away at my mind.
I manage to hang on for a few more seconds, but then everything goes black.
Chapter 32
Tobias
I’m alive. At least I think I am.
A searing pain shoots across my chest every time I inhale, but at least I’m breathing. Whatever I’m laying on is soft, so I’m probably not back in Hell.
All good signs.
An ache throbs in my temples as I pry my eyes open and let them adjust to the light. I’m staring up at a set of fluorescent bulbs, the familiar roof of my tour bus stretched out above me.
How the fuck did I get here?
I have no idea how long I was out, but the moments leading up to unconsciousness are slowly fading back into focus. The hellbeasts ambushing us, the fight, Emrys saving my ass,Joseline…
My heart skips a beat as I recall barelymaking it in time to save her. Draining her energy, desperately trying not to take too much while also trying not to die. Her energy is probably the only reason I’mnotback in Hell right now.
I groan and reach up to massage my temple.
Fuck, my head hurts.
I glance down at my body, wincing at the damage. Someone tore off my shirt and bandaged my chest—probably Emrys. Dry blood is crusted over my skin, scratches and bruises littering most of me. They’ll heal quickly, a few days at most, but it’s not a pretty sight.
The bus is obviously moving, bumping along gently as we roll down the road. Definitely for the best; we didn’t need to stay at that venue another second. If another swarm of hellbeasts found us, we wouldn’t stand a chance.
