Page 124 of Desecrated Saints
“I’m fucking scared! That’s all!”
“Spare me your excuses. You think I’m not scared? Sitting in that fucking room, dragging up six years of trauma? It’s terrifying for me too! I’m doing it for you, for our family. The one you gave me.”
Teetering in the air, I stare at him. My saviour. My monster. The keeper of the absolute worst parts of myself. The world wants to bury us alive, regardless of the truth. We’re both being sent down to hell.
“We will never matter to them,” I spell out. “Our lives are forfeit.”
His hand moves like a lightning bolt. One moment, I’m a breath from death. The next, I’m falling into his awaiting arms and swept off my feet. Seven looks at me like I’m his entire fucking world, dead or alive. I can hardly breathe from the intensity of his possession.
“Your life will never be forfeit to me,” he whispers roughly. “And certainly not to the others. You stood next to that coffin and promised that I would never be alone. Did you mean it?”
With my fingertip, I trace the shiny scar marking his forehead. I can still hear his screams. Augustus punished us together that day. It was late into our imprisonment, once the boundaries between us melted away. Seven stepped in front of the blow meant for me, taking a whip directly to the face.
“I meant it,” I murmur.
“Prove it. Stay with me.”
“Why?!”
“Because I can’t survive without you!”
“What if they take us away from each other?” I shout through my tears.
Rather than answer, his lips crush against mine, bruisingly hard. I can’t kiss him back. This isn’t a show of love. There’s no tenderness or romance. It’s a punishment for daring to toss his fragile heart aside. He steals my breath and bites my lip, taking every bit of proof he needs.
“I swear on what’s left of my life, I will always find you,” Seven vows, kissing me softer. “I fucking love you, Eight.”
“You do?”
“Of course I do, you frustrating creature. I own the final piece of your heart. Nobody will ever take that privilege from me.”
We seal our promise in a heavy raincloud, trapped by wind and the uncontrollable power of fate. I don’t complain once as Seven bends me over and fucks me on the rooftop, both soaked to the bone but uncaring. The entire city watches us collide, granting us a brief second of solitude.
He repeats that he loves me.
Over and over again.
I whisper it back, silently praying for the strength to be what he needs. I can feel this journey drawing to its close. We’ve travelled so far, battled for each second of sanity and belonging, yet still we’re barrelling towards the edge of a cliff. I can’t change that now.
The only way out of our love is death.
I’ve always loved a tragic ending.
CHAPTER 26
HUDSON
YOUTH - CLEOPATRICK
Riding the elevator back to the apartment with Kade, we’re both far too pleased with ourselves. Brooklyn’s surprise is ready to go. The others have kept her distracted all afternoon while we prepared.
We’ve been granted the rest of the day off from giving evidence after Brooklyn’s breakdown yesterday. Eli is the last to be called from our group. After that, we await the next steps. Each day has only brought more questions, so anxiety is at an all-time high.
“You think she’ll like it?” Kade worries aloud.
His voice snaps me out of my overthinking.
“Fuck knows. She isn’t herself at the moment.”
