Page 435 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Lachlan’s hand rests over his heart.

Kade feels sharp nails, talons perhaps.

‘Yours.’

Whatever small part of Kade thinks they should maybe worry just a little bit about these new changes is drowned out by love, by gratitude and the overwhelming beauty of being certain in the moment that miracles are real, that magic is real, that love can prevail and life… is worth trying for.

The feeling swells to bittersweet heights that desire cannot reach and all Kade can do is hug him so tight it should hurt, but it won’t. Lachlan buries his face in Kade’s neck, holds him carefully, like he could break.

‘Thank you for coming back.’

‘Kade, I have to tell you—’

‘Lachlan.’

Blaire’s voice is a strange reminder that they’re not the only two people on earth. Kade blinks hard and looks over at her.

She’s helped Riley to stand and has one hand on his shoulder.

Lachlan looks out from where he was hiding in Kade’s neck.

Riley watches them both with wide eyes, but no real shock.

When Kade smiles, he matches it.

And there is still so much to be done, overcome, fixed, fought for. There are still all kinds of bad in the world that need work and attention, and Kade knows that. He knows the risks. He knows the worth.

But he also knows with total and utter certainty that they can do it.

That everything is going to be OK.

Blaire says, ‘I’m so sorry.’

Lachlan shakes his head. ‘You were doing what you could. I know that now. I know how hard it was for you in the Estate and you were right,’ he tells her, voice lower than it typically is. The vibrations of it resonate in Kade’s cells like his favourite song. ‘I was the blind sniper, Blaire. I shot them. I didn’t mean to, but I did. You were right about everything and I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you and that I didn’t trust Danya. And you have nothing to apologise to me for, but for whatever it’s worth…’ He takes a deep breath, hand curled around Kade’s waist. ‘I forgive you.’

She smiles at him strangely through the rain.

Kade can’t quite make it out.

‘I wasn’t apologising to you,’ Blaire says.

And then she pushes Riley off the Tower.

His body folds over the wall, balance vanishing backwards into the dark as gravity steals him, snatches him.

Kade doesn’t even scream.

It’s too fast, too sudden, too absolute.

It’s the most violent thing he’s ever seen.

And then three seconds later, he feels Riley hit the concrete beneath.

His bones go crunch.

His spine breaks.

His skull shatters.