"Hey." She touches my cheek with a bloody hand. "I've got your back."
"I…" Breathing is hard—I think I've got broken ribs from the…everything. I fight the words out. "Love you too."
"Dammit, Saxon. Stay with me."
"Call Camilla. Closer. Then…Inez."
"You're gonna fuckin' stay awake, Saxon."
"Tryin'."
"What do I tell Camilla? I took her revenge away."
"Kill…or be…killed. She'll get it. She…she likes you."
"Fuck, I hope so."
I find her turquoise eyes. "Now would be…a good time…to say it."
"You wish. You gotta stay with me."
"Why…are you…so scared?"
She sniffles. "Never said it. Never heard it said to me, except for Em. I don't—I don't know how. She says it to me. But I…I don't know how." She fishes my phone out, yanks the headset free. Dials a number. To me, then: "But I do, Saxon. I do. I've got your back."
Darkness reaches up, implacable.
"Scaredy…cat."
I pass out, then.
Crazied Into Love
Terra
"Hello? Saxon, what's the report?"
I clear my throat, refusing to look at Saxon—his chest is rising and falling, so at least I know he's still alive. "Um. It's…it's me. Terra. Um."
"Fuck." Her voice is worried.
"No, no. Saxon is alive. But, um…he's not in good shape. We need help."
"Where are you?"
"Fuck, I don't know."
