Page 73 of Ghosts of the Dead

Jace’s smile is small, but it’s there. “Good. You should keep it that way.”

Mars steps forward and closes the distance between us in two long strides. On instinct, my hand rises to rest flat against his warm, bare chest as he leans in, but instead of stopping there, he cups my face and kisses me. It’s not gentle or tentative, either. It’s fierce and possessive, filled with all the worry and frustration I’ve caused him.

When he pulls back, eyes like obsidian lock me in place. “You’re stuck with us, purple. All three of us. Whether you allow it or not.” His thumb traces along my lower lip. “We can’t protect you if you keep running away from us, and I’m not losing you when I just found you.” One corner of his mouth lifts into a smile. “Besides. I’d like to kiss my favorite season any time I damn well please.”

The raw emotion in his voice leaves me momentarily speechless. Before I can formulate a response, he steps back with that familiar cocky grin returning as if to mask the vulnerability he showed.

Since my brain still can’t form a response, I nod and turn to the tunnel of darkness.

Luna presses closer to my side, and we move in silence.

The closer we get to the tunnel, the colder it feels. The frigid air bites deeper the closer we get, as if the tunnel itself wants to keep us out. I shiver. Caspian stops at the edge and his breath catches.

When I glance back at him, his face is stricken with fear, and he doesn’t move. “Cas?”

“I can’t,” he says, his face pained and his voice tight. His hands move as if to shove into his hoodie pockets, but he’s not wearing his hoodie. “It’s too narrow and too dark. How about we go around?”

“Going around isn’t as easy as you think,” Jace says. “This tunnel goes underneath the city. We would have to either go straight through the city, or go around, which can add hours, maybe more, onto the walk. And, uh,” he rubsthe back of his neck, “the car isn’t exactly running at the moment.”

“What about another car? We can hotwire one,” Caspian says.

Jace shakes his head. “When Mars and I were gone the other night, we couldn’t find another one in the area that would work. We tried.” He looks at Caspian with regret. “Sorry.”

“Lucy said it was right on the other side of the tunnel,” I say, as though that’ll somehow change everything.

Caspian looks pained. I open my mouth to tell him we’ll find another way, but he shakes his head. “I can’t hold you back. If I have another episode in there, it’ll only cause you more trouble you don’t need. So I’ll guard from here and watch for anything coming from behind. One of us should probably stay back anyway, in case it is a trap and you need a knight in shining armor.”

Mars grins. “Just don’t steal my thunder, Cas.”

Jace’s voice is flat. “Good. One of us should have clear eyes back here to cover our asses.”

Caspian shakes his head and gives me a sad smile. “Just…don’t take too long.”

Luna whines and looks between me and Caspian.

I step closer to him and place my hand on his arm. He has goosebumps. “I understand, Cas. Everyone has their own darkness to fight, and I won’t push you past your comfort level.”

My eyes meet his, and I see the conflict in them. He looks even more pained than he did when I followed him into the dark.

I squeeze his arm. “But I want you to know, whenever you’re ready to fight against the dark, I’ll be there beside you, ready to help.”

I rise onto the toes of my boots and press my lips to his. It’s not merely a light touch this time as I pour everythingI’m feeling into it: gratitude for his honesty, understanding for his fear, and the growing warmth I feel whenever he’s near. As much as I want him to continue forward with me, it’s not worth it to put him at risk.

Maybe this is what Mars has been trying to tell me.

When I pull back, his pale blue eyes are wide, and pupils dilated in the moonlight.

I crouch down next to Luna and run my fingers through her thick fur. “I need you to stay with Caspian,” I tell her, looking straight into her intelligent eyes. I know she understands. “Keep him safe for me, okay?” I press a kiss to the top of her head. “Be a good girl. We’ll be back before you know it.”

Luna licks my hand once to say she understands, then moves to sit beside Caspian. She whines, but she doesn’t budge.

I take a step back toward the tunnel, still watching Caspian. “We’ll be right back. I promise.”

There’s a hint of sadness in his eyes when he smiles. “Are you as good at keeping promises as we are?”

“Guess you’re about to find out.” I turn around and lead Mars and Jace into the tunnel.

The tunnel swallows us whole. There’s no light, except what Mars’s flashlight cuts through the dark. The walls drip. The air stinks like mold and rot. Every footstep echoes, and I’m almost tempted to go back to Caspian and take the long way with him after all. I was wrong to run off on my own. We shouldn’t split up like this.

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