We both collapsed onto the ground of the cave, panting, and I moaned, “Water.”
Gage sat up. “I know of some storage facilities near Shadow City where Apollyon keeps food and water for him and the Shades who live in the city. But that’s like a day’s walk away, so for now…” He let that sentence linger in the air.
What, starve? Die of thirst? If only Indigo was still here to help me stabilize a portal. I’d try to get us closer to Shadow City. I’d already tried once but failed miserably. I couldn’t get the portal large enough for Gage and me to pass through, so walking was our only option.
I couldn’t help but think of what Drea and the others must be doing for food and water. I just hoped they’d either made it into the city or one of those storage houses he spoke of, because I already felt enough guilt for trapping them there.
“How’s your wound?” I indicated his bloody shirt from where his dad had stabbed him. He hadn’t complained about it at all the entire walk, but he was a tough guy like that. If Gage needed medical attention, maybe I should create a portal into a hospital in New York or the healing center and push him through. Then I could go on the rest of the way by myself. Sure, he’d be mad, but he would be alive.
He lifted his shirt and I gasped. There was no bloody wound, just a faint pink scar where it used to be.
He looked down at it, then over at me. “Dash said his uncle had healing powers too after being bitten…”
I was grateful he was sharing this hellhound stuff with me, and so I didn’t want to react too strongly and scare him from sharing future things with me.
“It’s not a bad power to have,” I said nervously.
Gage side-eyed me and then put his head into his hands. When he lifted his face, I couldn’t help but note how gorgeous he was. Even now, looking stressed and with dirt and sweat on his face he was utterly kissable.
“Tate, I should tell you something else Dash told me.”
I braced myself. I’d wanted him to hit me with the tough stuff and now he was going to. I just needed to prove to him that I could handle it. Reaching out, I slipped my hand in his. “Whatever it is, we can get through it together,” I told him.
He nodded, squeezing my hand. “Dash said that if enough venom got through the bite to make me fully shift, I would automatically be sucked into a portal to the Netherworld for a full day every full moon.”
It was like time stopped. I stopped breathing, stopped blinking. Everything just froze as I processed his confession. When it finally seeped in, I sucked in a lungful of air.
“Okay… so when do we find out if that’s happening or not?” My voice shook.
I’m cool. You can trust me with your darkest secrets, and I won’t run away screaming.
“You’re totally freaking out,” he chuckled nervously.
“I am not.” I tried to school my expression as Gage looked down at our clasped hands. I followed his gaze and realized I was squeezing his so hard my knuckles were white.
Oops.
Letting his hand go, I smoothed my sweaty palm on my jeans. “Sorry, just processing if my boyfriend will be a hellhound for Halloween. Could be cool. You wouldn’t need a costume.”
Gage laughed, and I was glad it had lightened the mood a bit. Leaning closer to me, he raked his hands through my hair and down the side of my neck. “Say it again,” he whispered.
It took me a second to realize what he was asking, and when I did I couldn’t help but smile. “Boyfriend.”
Gage smiled back, shaking his head. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“You said it first,” I joked, and then poked him in the side.
He captured my fingers and brought them to his lips for a gentle kiss. “I sure did,” he said.
I held up my hands and made air quotes with my fingers. “I don’t do relationships, I have a reputation, blah, blah.”
Gage tickled my side, and I jerked my arms down, laughing.
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
I grinned at him. “Probably not.”
He groaned, but the smile he couldn’t wipe from his face said he didn’t care.
