Page 47 of Beast in the Badlands
A rush of warmth and clarity flows through my veins as if she's pulled back a veil from my mind. This bond we share is strange yet profound; it fills the emptiness I've carried for so long.
“We can’t stay here,” I say firmly, forcing myself not to think about how much these people mean to Emry or how their fates intertwine with hers.
“I know,” she replies quietly but firmly—an acknowledgment wrapped in determination that drives away lingering shadows of doubt.
We stand together for a moment longer under the vast expanse of an uncertain sky before she looks up at me with fierce conviction again—like a warrior readying herself for battle against an unseen foe.
“Let’s go then,” Emry says resolutely, pulling me toward the ship where Kairon and Ava await—a lifeline extending into an unknown future where we might forge our own path amid crumbling remnants of our pasts.
As we walk side by side toward our ship, uncertainty ebbs slightly within me; if nothing else remains certain about this universe rife with danger—it’s that whatever awaits us outside these ruins will be faced together.
And perhaps that will be enough for both of us—for now at least.
CHAPTER 36
EMRY
The stars streak by, long lines of light merging into a cosmic blur. I lean against the cool glass of the viewing deck, soaking in the view as if it’s some grand masterpiece meant only for us. Renn stands beside me, his presence solid and warm. He’s changed too—gone is the raw pain etched into his features. In its place, a quiet confidence shines through, and I find comfort in how he watches me.
Around us, the crew moves with purpose. Nyra barks orders to the techs as they run diagnostics on the ship’s systems, her sharp voice cutting through the hum of machinery. Kairon and Ava engage in their usual bickering, playful jabs that seem to dance like electricity in the air. It all feels normal—a strange, beautiful kind of normal.
I glance up at Renn. His red eyes hold a depth that pulls me in; he watches me with an admiration that makes my heart flutter.
“Do you regret it?” he murmurs, his breath warm against my hair.
I smile softly and rest my head against his chest. “Not for a second.”
He leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple—a tender moment wrapped in the chaos of our lives.
“Good,” he says, his voice low and firm. “Because you’re never getting rid of me.”
A smirk creeps across my face as I look up at him. “You’re lucky I like you, Reaper.”
Before I can register what’s happening, he scoops me up effortlessly and tosses me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing at all. The surprise leaves me breathless.
“Take it back,” he growls playfully.
I let out a laugh as I hang there, upside down and entirely at his mercy. “No thanks.”
The corner of his mouth curls into a wicked grin before he starts striding toward his quarters with purpose.
“You think that’s funny?” He walks with determination, each step radiating mischief.
“It’s hilarious,” I reply with a chuckle.
Once inside his room, Renn shuts the door behind us with a decisive click that sends my heart racing faster than before. He tosses me onto the bed; I land with a soft thud against the plush surface.
“Take it back,” he repeats more insistently this time as he climbs on top of me.
My breath catches; anticipation simmers between us like charged energy ready to spark.
“Make me, Reaper boy,” I challenge from beneath my lashes—my pulse thrumming wildly at the playful defiance in my tone.
Renn leans closer until our faces are inches apart; heat radiates off him like an inferno contained within flesh and bone. “You really shouldn’t have said that.”
His eyes glint mischievously as he dips lower—just enough to tease but not quite enough to close the gap completely.
“I’m not afraid of you,” I declare boldly even as butterflies take flight in my stomach.
