Page 169 of Feed Your Fiends

“He couldn’t risk Bart finding out.”

“I can keep a secret! You know that better than anyone.”

“He wanted you safe. You’re his big little brother. He was scared for you, Hale. Petrified. If he told you, you’d make him even more nervous. He couldn’t handle your emotions plus his. Nor Elle’s. It’s why he called you to take care of her the second she left the safety of Bae’s flat.”

What?My eyes itch and burn all over again.

“He took on yours, though,” Hale says bitterly.

“Because I’m a cold son of a bitch, remember?”

Silence.

“There had to be another way,” Hale says, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “Gant… He was my brother before…before all of this. He could’ve told me.”

“No, I couldn’t,” Gant croaks, and we all freeze, besides our gazes that fly to the hospital bed where his tired black eyes stare back at us beneath hooded lids. “You and Elle are terrible actors. Hale, you wouldn’t have fooled a toddler, much less Bart. Elle, you can’t pretend to not love me, even when your lips swear that you hate me. It had to be real.”

I choke as he opens his arms limply toward me, his fingers tangled in doll Elle’s red yarn hair.

“What are you waiting for? Fly me to me, dove.”

Elle

My hair flies behind me like spreading wings as I run toward him, but I quickly lose my balance as Hale and Zedd’s long legs overtake me and reach the bed first. It squeaks in protest as they dive for him, one on either side.

My shock wears off at the sight of Gant’s genuine smile as he looks at me. Despite their embraces, his hands are still free, though pinned between them, and he lifts his palms, inviting me to join them.

I climb up, keeping most of my weight between his parted legs and on my elbows as I gaze up at him. It’s like I’m seeing him for the first time again, pale skin, sharp lines, and black eyes as shiny as his tousled hair that’s fallen onto his forehead. I know him, but I don’t. An angel or a fiend? Or a hybrid? Because he’ll do anything to save me by any means necessary.

“I’ve done so much to you,” he whispers as I draw closer. “But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this scared before. Not when I pinned you down in the auditorium, or when I shoved you in the lake, or when I shared my obsession and told you how much I loved you.”

My breath hitches.

“You’re trembling, dovey.”

“Y-you…you left me,” I gasp as the words spew out like vomit.

“And that terrifies you?”

I shake my head. “Petrifies me.”

“You don’t ever want to lose me?”

“How could you even ask me that?” I hiss, tears splashing my cheeks. He strokes them with his thumbs.

“Good,” he whispers. “Then beg me to stay.”

“What?” But then I see his wicked grin and know he’s doing what he always does. Toying with me, but I’m not playing.

I lean back on my heels so that I’m kneeling between his calves that are tucked beneath the blankets. I swipe at my tears, clench my fingers together and hold them tight against my heart as if I’m in prayer. It is a prayer. A plea.

“Don’t ever leave me.Please.”

His smirk falters. His fingers twitch as if to drag me back to him, but I shimmy out of his grasp. This is important.

“I…I know how fucking crazy you are. I knew better than to say those words to you. That I’d only forgive you on your deathbed.” A deep hiccup racks my shoulders.

“Dove.”

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