Page 55 of Storm of Stars
I should’ve known.
We could’ve saved Lark.
The guilt punched through me like it had every night since it happened, hollowing out a fresh pit in my chest. My vision blurred.
Ezra’s hand found my jaw and gently tilted my face back to his.
“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked softly.
“They got Lark,” I whispered. “We couldn’t save him.”
He didn’t speak right away. Just pulled me into his arms, the warmth of him anchoring me again. And for a long moment, I just let myself be held. We’d had to be so fucking strong through everything, but as the bus rattled forward, I allowed myself this one, precious moment of vulnerability. Just a brief surrender to what we were carrying and what we had survived.
“We’re headed back to Praxis now,” I said, my voice trembling just slightly as I wiped the tears from my cheeks,steadying myself. “With any luck, the Runaways will be there waiting.”
“They will,” Ezra replied, his voice solid and unwavering, like a promise. His conviction grounded me in a way I didn’t realize I needed.
“I hope you’re right,” I muttered under my breath, uncertainty still curling in the pit of my stomach.
The radio attached to Thorne’s hip sounded, but I couldn’t make it out. He listened.
Thorne’s voice broke into the moment, his tone rough but carrying that steady certainty of his. “They found the guards. They know we escaped.” I nodded, feeling the tension build in my chest. “We’ll be there early morning. Might be a good idea for you all to get some rest,” he called from the front.
“You too,” Briar added, her voice laced with a rare kindness. “Wake me up at some point, and I’ll drive us the rest of the way.”
“Deal,” Thorne responded, a slight shift in his voice that hinted at the exhaustion we all shared.
Briar and Devrin split off, claiming empty rows near the back of the bus to lay down, their bodies eager for any bit of rest they could find. But before she settled, Briar stopped by our row. She leaned over and pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to my lips. I kissed her back, absorbing that simple gesture of intimacy, a momentary sanctuary amid the chaos.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the last streaks of light bled into the night sky. The weariness settled deeper into my bones, but I wasn’t ready to sleep. Not yet. Not when Ezra was here, breathing beside me.
I turned to study his face. His eyes were closed, but the furrow between his brows told me that his mind was still miles away, trapped in thoughts I couldn’t reach.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked gently, reaching out to trace the wrinkle that creased his forehead. “There’s worry painted all over you.”
He met my eyes, his expression distant but soft. “I saw Kade,” he said, his voice low, like a secret shared in the dark.
My heart skipped a beat. The words hit me like a jolt of lightning, but before I could fully grasp their meaning, he continued.
“Well... I know it wasn’t really him,” he said slowly, almost apologetically, “But it sure felt like it.”
I ran my hand down his cheek, a soft, comforting gesture, and he leaned into it, the exhaustion on his face giving way to a deeper ache.
“No matter the reason,” I said quietly, “I can imagine it must have been nice to see him.”
He nodded, his jaw tightening as a fresh wave of emotion washed over him. “Yeah.” His voice cracked just a little. “I never thought I’d ever see his face again, or hear his voice. But there he was. And God, it felt so real.” His eyes softened, unfocused as he drifted back into the memory. “I think I was always afraid I’d forget him. That time would erase pieces of him. But he’s still right there. Ya know?”
I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, feeling his warmth bleed into me. “Yeah. I know.” My voice caught. “I don’t think the people we love ever disappear. Not from here.” I placed my palm gently over his heart, letting it linger.
He covered my hand with his, holding me there. His touch was firm, like he was trying to ground us both.
“You’re here now too, Brexlyn,” he whispered, his breath warm against my face. “Etched on this heart like you’ve always belonged there.”
I smiled, feeling the weight of his words. “And I’ll always be there,” I promised him, my voice steady, though the worldaround us was anything but. No matter what happened next, I knew that much to be true. Our hearts were linked, eternally, no matter what. Even if one of them stopped beating.
“I know you will.” He kissed my forehead softly, and for a moment, everything felt right.
I’ve always loved the quiet, tender side of Ezra, the part of him he only let a few people see. Me mostly. And maybe Zaffir too. It felt like a privilege, to see his vulnerability.
