Page 95 of Infernal Hearts

“I’ll be okay. I just want to get out of here and never come back.”

I pull him into my embrace. “And you don’t have to. It’s going to be all right.”

He sighs into my shoulder. “I know.”

When we climb into the truck, the music blasts as soon as I turn on the engine. Jason jumps, pressing a hand to his heart.

I cringe. “Sorry. You’ll learn to block out the volume. Tone it down for when you don’t need it.”

“Sooner than later, I hope.” He rests his head against the window, crossing his arms against his chest.

We drive down the dark road in silence, but I can sense the emotions of his heart pouring out of him and into mine. We’re connected now. After everything that’s happened, I can tell it hasn’t broken his hope. If I know anything about Jay, it’s that he’s a fighter. I’m sure he’ll get through this. He has to.

I try to think about what this will mean for him. How long it’ll take him to adapt. Will he be more resistant to magic? Or will he embrace it fully now? Only time will tell, because I know for a fact it’s too soon for him to decide. He needs time to think through things, and the last thing I’m going to do is rush him.

One thing I know for sure is he won’t do it alone. I’ll be here for him as long as he needs me to be. And if he wants me to go, if this was all too painful for him to bear and all I am is a reminder, I’ll go. No matter how painful that would be for me at this point.

I’ve never had someone sacrifice so much for me. I’ve never had someone protect me before. And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful. He’ll always have my heart, whether he likes it or not. We now share a connection that can’t be broken. And I’d do anything for him.

“Jay…I’m sorry for what I said earlier today. I didn’t mean one word of it. I just thought it would be easier for me to kill someone if you already hated me. Please forgive me.”

He lets out a couple of tender sobs with a small nod of his head, and somehow I know that’s the best I’m going to get out of him tonight.

We pull into the parking lot at the clinic. “You doing okay?”

“I should probably go check on Rani and see how she’s doing.”

I hold up my hand. “I’ll do it. You go inside and get ready for bed. I’ll be up soon.”

“You sure?”

I kiss him on the cheek. “Of course.”

“Shine a flashlight in her eyes and see if there’s a reaction. Hopefully, she’s made more progress since this afternoon.”

“Will do.” I rub his arm, and he smiles.

“Thank you.” He turns away and goes into the clinic. I pause as the light turns on upstairs.

Turning toward the guest house, I’m not sure what to tell Rani. She’s going to need some sort of explanation, but tonight was…a lot.

As soon as the door opens, her voice immediately calls out. “If you aren’t in one piece, I’m gonna finish you off myself.”

I make my way over to her side. “Eventful evening.”

“Tell me about it.” She scowls in my voice’s direction. “I’ve been here thinking the worst all night.”

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I shine it in her eyes. There’s the faintest outline of her narrow pupils showing through, pulsing as the light goes over them. Good sign.

I start my story at the beginning. I tell her what I read in the journal, how I went to go hunting for Jason’s father, only to get captured. She listens intently to every detail, sitting in stony silence until I tell her about giving Jay my brother’s heart.

“So he’s…like us now?”

“More than not. He’s going to need some time to figure things out.”

She blows out a deep breath. “Can’t say I thought it would ever end like this.”

“Me neither.” I chuckle. “But he saved my life, Rani. I think we should stick around for a while. Help him through the transition.”

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