Page 359 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Kade shakes his head, breathless.

Angry. Sad. Furious. Heartbroken.

Fire underwater, this is how it feels.

Lachlan sighs. ‘I should have waited to give it to you.’

‘Probably, yeah.’

‘I’m sorry. I just knew tomorrow was going to be busy and—’

‘Say you love me.’

His soft blink carries such love that it bleeds outward in ripples, erasing Lachlan’s concern, the last of his regret over giving Kade the notebook.

‘I love you.’

‘Again.’

‘I love you.’

Kade moves closer.

The nettles and the thorns catch.

‘You love me?’

‘I love all of you,’ Lachlan tells him, steady and true. ‘Heart and soul.’

‘Say my name.’

Lachlan strokes his face with the back of his fingers, setting the gun down. ‘Which one, baby?’

‘The name of the man you love.’

‘It’s all you.’

‘Julian?’

Lachlan looks at him as though he has carried this love across a thousand years and would shoulder another thousand for the privilege.

‘You. Just you. My beautiful, chaotic Cascade.’

Kade laughs, and tears spill.

He pulls him in close, but not to kiss.

Not yet.

‘I feel like I’m dying. Is this love? Is this how it feels?’

‘I don’t know,’ Lachlan murmurs. ‘I only ever loved you this way.’

‘Do you feel it too?’

Lachlan puts his hand over his heart.

A lie makes a double beat.