We gave in.

Our motions turned rabid, seeking one goal, devouring each other in a fit of sin.

“Fuck me. Oh, Kite. Love me. Fuck me. Ride me.”

I couldn’t hold on anymore. Digging my knees into the hay, I gave her what she wanted. I lived in her begs and drove faster until red pain flashed through my system.

I plunged into her, our groans and moans drowning out the sounds of our fucking.

Her core tightened.

I rocked harder, rubbing myself against her clit. My balls smacked against the curve of her arse and the hay prickled like tiny needles. Our bodies battled each other—a perfect avenue of violent emotions.

I thrust again and again and again. “Fuck, I’m going to come.”

Her back locked, her core clenched, giving me nowhere else to go.

Her legs locked tight around my waist. I cried out as her knee caught my injury.

“Yes!” She came hard and furious, fisting around me, dragging painful pleasure from every inch.

My orgasm unravelled without warning, exploding like a thunderstorm through every muscle. Lightning and rain drops, I spurted my very fucking soul into her.

One thing was for sure, I didn’t just come. I came undone.

And only Nila had the power to stitch me back together.

TIME WAS MY worst enemy.

Nothing good ever came from time.

It passed too quickly—good moments and happy memories gone in a blink. Or it passed too slowly—bad experiences and unhappy circumstances dragging for an eternity.

And now, when all I wanted to do was fall asleep in the warm stable with Jethro wrapped around me and the sweet scent of hay in my nose, all I could focus on was…time is limited.

We’d carved out all we could, and now it was over.

I looked at Jethro. My freshly cut hair whispered along my jaw. My heart suffocated with love for him and what he’d done.

He’d single-handedly brought me back from the brink, giving me back my self-worth, fixing me enough to stay strong—for a little longer.

He pulled up his jeans and buckled them. Without a word, he slipped off the hay bale and helped me stand. We hadn’t talked about what would happen now, but I already knew. He meant to send me back.

He’s leaving me again.

Sadness and fear tingled my spine.

I can’t go back.

But I had no choice.

I’ll break.

But I had to remain strong.

I couldn’t look at him as he smoothed down my nightgown, readjusted my coat, and plucked wayward strands of straw from my hair.

Say it. Tell me we’re about to go our separate ways after everything that’s happened.

Jethro stiffened, obviously sensing my frustration and terror.

Time would come between us again. I would hate it all the more.

“Nila…stop.” Gathering me in a hug, he kissed my cheek. “You already know what I’m about to say. I feel it.”

I snuggled into him, despite wanting to shove him away. All that talk of keeping me safe, yet he expected me to return to the monster’s den without him.

Please, don’t do it…take me with you.

“What are you going to do?” I inhaled his skin, flinching against the strange scent of antiseptic and musk. He normally smelled so delicious but now he reminded me of death and toil. “Whatever you’re planning, don’t. We could still leave. Tonight.”

Time doesn’t need us apart again. It’s had its fun.

I wanted to create my own time where we became immortal and lived a safe, happy existence forever.

But you know he’s right.

No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t leave Vaughn and he couldn’t leave Jasmine. And if Kestrel ever woke up, Jethro owed him a safe home to return to. As much as I wanted to scream and beg, I forced down my weakness. I was on his side—I would do what he asked of me, even if it was the hardest thing I’d ever do.

Damn obligations and common-sense. Hadn’t I deserved some fantastical ideology where we could run off into the sunset and exist happily ever after?

Why couldn’t life be like storybooks?

Jethro sighed, hugging me hard. His muscles vibrated; his heart thundered. He was alive, in my arms, and his orgasm was drying on my inner thigh.

He’s alive.

I had to trust he’d stay that way to carry out whatever he had planned.

“I need to end this, Nila.” Jethro pulled away, looking into my eyes. “You know as well as I do that we can’t be free until it’s dealt with.”

The cuts on my breastbone flared, agreeing with him. We’d suffered enough—it was their turn.

My eyes fell to his waist. It hadn’t escaped my notice that he refused to take his t-shirt off. However, he couldn’t hide the small pinprick of blood coming through the light grey material.

I reached for it.

He jolted back, clamping an arm around himself—glaring at me, daring me to question his conviction that he was strong enough to do this. “One day, two at the most. I’ll have everything in place and we can finally be happy.”

I shook my head. “Something will happen. It always does.” Tears rose. I hated that I was weak but I couldn’t deny it—the thought of going back to Hawksridge alone petrified me. “I can’t go back, Kite. Please, don’t make me.”

So much for not begging.

“They’ve hurt me. They almost won. I know you believe in me but I honestly don’t believe in myself anymore. Please…please don’t make me go back.”