Page 316 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘I know you fear it enough to believe it, yes.’

‘That’s so fucked up,’ Jules utters. ‘Even knowing he told you to end it with me doesn’t excuse it.’

‘I never said it did.’

‘And if I forgive you?’

‘Whatever you’re going to do, do it for yourself and not me.’

‘I can’t live without you.’

‘Of course you can.’

‘Danya told me everything, Lachlan. Everything.’

Lachlan shuts down.

‘We can talk about this later. I have to shower.’

Jules follows him inside as he pulls off his vest and sets it down.

The boy switches on every single one of the showers, and then, before Lachlan can protest, Jules pushes him beneath the downpour, gets him up against the wall and holds him there by the wrists.

‘Jules—’

‘I can’t let go.’

‘Please don’t do this.’

‘I’ve tried. God knows I’ve tried.’ Lachlan cannot bear to see him suffer and, worse yet, to be the cause. ‘You came into my life and turned me inside-fucking-out, Bodyguard. You changed everything. You brought me to life.’

‘Please don’t do this.’

‘And it hurt to be alive in a place like this,’ Jules goes on, slotting their noses together as the water drenches his clothes, his hair and skin. He’s breathtaking when wet. ‘You made me feel all of it. You made me see myself. I can’t let you go. How could I?’

‘We can’t do this.’

‘I won’t let you go. I don’t believe your lies. I know you love me.’

‘Julian—’

‘You know how I know?’

‘Please.’

Jules’ hand rests over Lachlan’s heart with undeniable possession.

‘A lie makes a double beat,’ Jules whispers, throat crushed, beautiful voice utterly wrecked beneath the weight of something heavy and hard. ‘You taught me that, and I think maybe… maybe you taught me because you knew one day you’d lose yourself to a lie and you trusted me to find you.’

He can’t breathe.

Can’t think.

He’s drowning.

Drowning in Julian Penhalyx.

A wretched sob slips free from the taller boy, ghosting over Lachlan’s wet mouth as he presses down against his heart so hard it hurts.