Page 106 of Queen of Diamonds

And I was so, so scared.

I didn’t want to die alone.

So I did what I never should have, and I stepped toward the offer that was reaching back for me.

ZED

I don’t know what it was—a strength of body or soul that the bond gave—but she came back. A flutter of life like a bird’s wings in the darkness, the touch, feather light, but hers.

My Glade, holding on.

I choked in shock, breaking and curling over her, shaking as I clutched her, afraid to lift my teeth away as if it might remove the hand to which she held.

I didn’t know how long I remained trembling, with the faintest thread between us.

Then there was movement. Her arm shifted, and autumn persimmon tickled my senses as I clung to her.

The engine started, and from the edge of my vision I saw a needle being threaded into a vein. His hands still shook, and he took a breath, steadying himself.

Kyan was back. He was saying something. To me or Knight, I didn’t know.

“Distributes to the local hospital… Need to get out of here before…”

I didn’t catch the rest, feeling the strength of her pulse pick up, and with it, my sanity began seeping back in.

She was alive.

Somehow.

“You can let her go.”

I didn’t want to move. She was alive, but what if… What if I let go and she fell, tumbling back into that abyss? Something told me if that happened, she’d never come back.

“The atropine is working. She’s going to live, but there’s more. You have to let go.”

Finally, I drew back, a low wounded sound in my chest as I did, terrified of what might happen.

Kyan’s hand cupped the back of my neck.

“She’s going to live.”

He would never say that if it wasn’t true…

Uncurling and drawing back was like cracking a clay cast that surrounded me.

I made myself move, finally hearing the roar of the truck’s engine, seeing the flashing Vegas lights passing us by, tasting the tang of iron on my tongue, and… It was the only thing that freed me truly. The soft, cool tones of cream cardamom in the air.

Her scent.

Clear.

True.

As beautiful as it was the first time I’d sat on that bench beside her all those years ago.

36

KNIGHT

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