“I’m sorry, brother,” Knox whispers.
And I can’t take it. I step out of the room, cover my mouth with both hands. The sobs come hard. I don’t want them to hear; I want them to have this.
They’re brothers. And this… this is theirs.
“We saved something for you,” Dante says inside. He sounds like he’s shaking but proud.
“What?” Knox asks.
“You’ll see,” Max chuckles.
Silence falls. I lean against the wall, trying to muffle my sobs; panic urges to come out.
“Aspen,” I hear Knox call, and I freeze.
“Knox, don’t.” Max murmurs.
I glance back. Knox is standing, barely, gripping the doorframe. Dante’s holding him up.
His eyes find mine.
“Pet?”
I don’t answer. I try to cover my face again. I don’t want him to see me like this.
“Don’t hide from me,” he murmurs, dragging himself toward me.
His hand closes over mine, pulling it down, and his thumb tilts my chin.
“There they are,” he whispers. “Those beautiful emerald eyes that kept me grounded.”
“I’m breaking, Knox,” I choke. “I’m finally breaking.”
He pulls me to him and groans in pain, but he doesn’t let go.
“I fucking love you,” he says. “So much I would burn the fucking world down and everyone in it if anything happened to you.”
My body collapses into his.
“You’re not breaking,” he murmurs. “You’re fighting; you are the strongest person I’ve ever met.” I look up at him; his beautiful, icy blue eyes look happy.
“Now fucking kiss me.”
And I do.
I crash my lips to his. His arms lock around me, his body still trembling, but he kisses me like fire.
I let him devour me.
And I finally feel it, deep in my soul, that my Reaper is back.
Knox
Istand in front of the mirror.
I look like shit, but I can move again, and every day I feel a little stronger.
“We’re leaving, Knox,” Max calls out behind me.
