Fourth a Lie

“You can’t carry both of us.”

“That’s why I said I’ll take you first—”

“No.” Her eyes flashed silver spirit. “She needs to see him, immediately.”

My temper met hers. “I agree, but I’m not leaving you here alone. Not with him.” My glare fell on Drake. Fuck, I wanted to kill him.

“And I’m not letting you push yourself so hard that you die on me.” Her tone fell to a harsh whisper. “What did you tell me last night? You wouldn’t let me die? Well...same goes for you.”

“I’m not going to die, Eleanor.”

She flinched. “We don’t know that. Those side-effects you mentioned—”

“Won’t happen to me.” I pinched my nose, squeezing back nightmares, headaches, and agony. “Look, just let me—”

“Stop arguing. You carry Jess and I’ll...” She pushed against me again, one hand rubbing at the spot above her heart as if palpitations still plagued her. “I’ll...walk.”

My eyebrows flew up. “Walk? You can’t walk. Not after last night.”

She gritted her teeth. “I’ll walk.” Pushing me away, she scanned my naked chest, seeing the stress and strain I did my best to ignore. “I’ll help you carry her.”

“No way.” I snorted. “There is no way I’d let you do that. You’re weak—”

“And you’re hurt.” She struggled to her feet again, the canary yellow shirt fluttering around her Bambi legs. Her attention split between me and the mercenaries. Her knees wobbled, her balance screwed from a night of mania. “We’re all hurt, so we’ll all help each other.” Padding unsteadily, tripping to one knee and somehow standing again, she ducked by Jealousy and shook her shoulder. “Jess...wake up. Just wake up for a little bit and then you can sleep, okay?”

Jealousy groaned, her eyelids flickering but unable to open. Violent shivers wracked her as I moved to the two girls and tried to trust in Eleanor’s strength.

Could she walk?

Could I seriously ask such a strenuous task of her?

My stomach clenched with possession. I wanted to take care of her the way she deserved, not demand she drain herself more, but...I wouldn’t belittle her by commanding an alternative to the one she offered.

I’d let her walk until she passed out.

Then I’d decide which one to carry first to Campbell.

At least both of them would be free of Euphoria.

Her eyes caught mine, cloudy and tired but coherent and brave. “Are you okay? Do you have the strength?”

My nostrils flared, annoyance trickling down my spine. “Don’t unman me, Jinx. I have enough.”

She bit her bottom lip, fears for my own well-being ghosting over her face.

I cupped her cheek, and murmured, “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

She turned and kissed my palm, shaking her head. “You’re not fine, and I’m still worried, but...we don’t have a choice.”

Not replying, I scooped Jealousy from the cold sandstone and tripped backward as I hoisted her weight into my arms.

Holy shit, did I have enough strength? I honestly didn’t know.

Getting a better grip, I struggled to suck up power and continue.

Jealousy’s skin didn’t make mine tingle like Eleanor’s did. Her presence wasn’t a curse or a blessing. She was just a girl who I would no longer rent out or misuse. A friend.

Eleanor stumbled and swayed, remaining on two feet but struggling.

I didn’t know how long she’d last, so I strode ahead, rushing into another rescue mission that I hoped wouldn’t be doomed to fail like the last one.

Drake mumbled something in his sleep as I passed him.

I kicked him hard for good measure.

“Hey!” the blond mercenary muttered. “He’ll get you back for that.”

“Or he won’t remember because he’ll be dead.” I marched past them, one goddess by my side and one in my arms. “Think about my offer. I’ll be back soon.”

Eleanor eyed them up, jumpy and weak as if she couldn’t believe they just let us walk away.

Cutting over the threshold and down the deck steps, I groaned as soft sand cushioned my bare feet. Warm sunshine broke through the gloomy morning, doing its best to paint my island in hope instead of despair.

Jealousy didn’t move as I carried her farther down the pathway. I kept a strict eye on Eleanor as she parried and swerved, stopping occasionally to rest against a palm tree.

My baser instincts to protect her cursed my lack of power. I wanted to carry her too. I wanted her to give into the sleep clawing at her mind. But I gritted my teeth and kept an unforgiving pace, allowing her to trail behind, even though it killed me.

Pika kept flight with us, swooping ahead to perch on flowers before circling with chirps and urging us to keep going.

Every step whispered with warning that I was creeping closer and closer to the burnout I’d feared was coming for me. The mental and physical brick wall that didn’t take kindly to me running face-first into it.

I felt it.

Its presence was unlike typical exhaustion.

It reached into my bones and bled my marrow dry.

Just a little longer...

One step.

Now the other.

My eyelids drooped, and my biceps threatened to drop Jess. I stopped for Eleanor to catch up.

Pika squeaked as she pulled up beside me, her face sweaty and hair a riot of knots. I’d loved her when she’d worn a gown of gemstones. I’d loved her when she’d been in a cave cuffed to the wall. I’d loved her even when I shouldn’t. And I loved her the most as she staggered in stubborn, stunning perfection.

Her skin held so many of my crimes. Her figure hinting of our many couplings and carnality. She’d been sold to me poised and pissed off, the only girl with the ability to tumble me from my throne into dirt.

She’d been the catalyst for my undoing

Why I’d reached rock bottom.

Why I had no choice but to change.

She was so young.

So fierce.

So wanted.

If I survived this war, I would marry her and give her everything I had.

I would trade a life of empty loneliness for one filled with laughter and love.

If I survive, Jinx...

I’m yours.

And you...I’m keeping forever.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“CAMPBELL, WHERE THE FUCK are you?”

Sully’s voice ripped through the medical rooms where I’d woken on my second day here after fainting at Sully’s feet. I’d rested on the bed by the wall. I’d glowered at Sully as he leaned nonchalantly against the drug cabinet, hating him with a thousand suns, and sucked up a smoothie full of delicious berries and banana and—

My stomach growled with starvation just as Dr Campbell appeared through the door separating this room with whatever surgeries and recovery rooms existed behind.

“Sinclair?” His white eyebrows shot up as his glasses slid down his nose. “What the hell are you doing here?” His gaze flew over me, swaying and clinging to the wall, Sully weaving and clinging to Jess, and Jealousy passed out and unresponsive in his arms.

We made a sad trio.

We dragged the stench of destruction and deceased hope behind us.