CHAPTER 30
“Are you sure about this?” Celise asked Faye.
They stood in the forest next to her car. Nightmare and Blaze had driven them back to the place they’d first met.
Faye nodded, but insecurity was in her eyes. “I’m sure. I’m staying. I have to deal with Silver somehow. Just don’t forget to stop by my house and pick up a few things for me.”
She nodded. “We’ll be back in a few days after we’ve buried Diane. I also have a few appointments with some cyborgs. I have to make sure Jade doesn’t suspect anything. She’s supervising Wind and me.”
Nightmare handed her a cell phone. “Here, take this. Use it if you need to get in contact with us, but keep it hidden.”
Celise nodded again, smiling at him. She’d never expected to see him in a new light. He still reminded her of that dangerous, unpredictable, and stern Fighter she’d seen many times on the news, but now, she also saw a gentler side to him. It was a side he probably didn’t show often, but something told her he’d chosen to trust her now.
“Thank you,” she said. “I will.”
Wind crossed his arms over his chest. “Shade and Phoebe aren’t going to like this.”
Nightmare’s gaze shot to him. “You intend to tell him?”
“Of course. Considering what you did to him, even if your intentions were good, he has the right to know. They both do. Besides, we can prove to him what’s going on now. He’ll be pissed, but he’ll accept it eventually.”
The leader’s jaw tensed, and anger lit his eyes.
“I don’t care if you like it or not,” Wind said. “You wanted to hurt me too, to find answers, so even if I now know what you say is true, don’t assume you and I will be friends. Besides, if you want to free all cyborgs from the bond, you’re going to need as much support as possible.”
Wind and Nightmare glared at each other, flinging invisible arrows.
“Wind’s right,” Faye said, turning to Nightmare. “You’re going to need all the help you can get.”
His gaze only darkened. “What if they talk?”
“Don’t worry,” Celise said, trying to calm him. “We’ll make sure they won’t. I know Phoebe and Shade well.”
Nightmare didn’t seem pleased. “Fine.”
They said goodbye and got in the car. Celise waved to the Fighters and Faye as they drove away. She hoped her friend would be all right. Who knew what awaited her alone with these cyborgs, and especially with Silver. Celise couldn’t help but worry. Nightmare had said Silver was locked up. Where, she didn’t know, but probably somewhere deep within their underground compound.
And something told her Silver was angry ... very angry.
It was silent inside the car for several minutes as Wind drove back to his and Diane’s home.
Celise remembered her promise that they could live there once Diane was gone, and that day was now upon them. She hoped Wind still wanted that. It was his home, after all, his life, but maybe too many memories lived there. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to get past that.
The sadness around them grew as they approached the beautiful home. Celise inhaled when the house came into view, tensing. She watched his face.
Wind seemed relaxed and focused on driving, but he wasn’t able to hide the sorrow in his eyes.
When he noticed she was watching him, he spared her a glance.
To her surprise, he smiled.
Her cyborg placed his hand on her leg, as if to comfort her. “I know what you’re thinking.” He paused. “I still love her. My feelings are still there, but now, I also feel an inner calmness. She has finally found peace. It’s over, and I don’t have to worry about her anymore. She doesn’t have to suffer anymore, and even if I miss her, I have to try to look at the future positively.” Wind dried away a tear and gave her another smile. “I have you now, and I intend to make the best out of it. I love you, Celise. Don’t ever doubt it. Even if the bond forced those feelings upon me, they are real, and they won’t change. I want to make you happy.”
His words warmed her heart. “I want to make you happy, too.”
“Then let’s make each other happy.”
She smiled and nodded.
He parked in the driveway. They got out of the car and looked up at the house as they held each other’s hands.
“Do you still want to live here?” Wind asked.
Celise held her breath. “Of course. Do you?”
He gently squeezed her hand. The gratitude shone in his eyes. “Yes, I wish to stay. My past is here, but I want my future to be here as well ... with you. Thank you.”
Their future didn’t seem easy now that they were involved with the Fighters, but they’d always have each other.
They kept staring at the house. They couldn’t avoid what they had to do next. It filled Celise’s heart with an unavoidable ache.
Eventually, Wind started walking, never releasing her hand, and she followed. He opened the front door.
It was almost too quiet, and even the sounds of her own breaths sounded too loud.
Everything was as they’d left it, with the bright staircase in front of them, and the chandeliers in the ceiling still lit.
Her cyborg’s grip on her hand tightened, and then he led her up the stairs, going to the guest room where Diane still lay. His breathing increased with each step they took, and when they finally stood in the doorway, he was almost hyperventilating.
Celise had her bag—in case she had to try to save him again—but she couldn’t save him from a broken heart.
Wind inhaled when he saw Diane’s body lying where they’d left her. Her eyes were closed, but she looked peaceful. He sobbed and wiped away tears.
Celise let go of his hand when he moved toward his first bound one’s body.
This was his moment. Wind needed this.
He needed time to grief, even if he’d said he’d tried to be happy.
Wind lifted Diane into his arms and placed her on the bed. He sat on the edge, caressing her cheek. His chin trembled, and he was unable to keep his hand steady.
There was so much love in that single caress.
Emotions wreaked havoc in Celise’s heart, making her cry and ache as she watched the man she loved. She slowly approached Wind but didn’t touch him. Something told her he didn’t want to be touched right now.
Celise could almost feel his pain, and she wished she could say or do something to ease his agony, but there was nothing no one could do.
He laid his head against Diane’s chest and wept.