Page 42 of Fractured Constellations
“Thank you, Blade,” she says quietly. “You all are taking such good care of me. Honestly, I can’t describe how grateful I am.”
My chest expands at her words, and I get up from the chair, placing the chart back on the wall. Taking her hand in mine, I bring it to my lips.
“We keep telling you, Goldilocks, no thanks is necessary.” Especially not with the way we treated her when she first came to us. It still sickens me to my stomach that we hurt her in any way, made her cry, or feel like she wasn’t welcome. We were too fucking blind, too full of our own importance to see what was right under our noses.
But no more. I will spend every moment I have researching how to beat this fucking disease for Luna, because I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to her. Treating her like the goddess she is and begging on my knees for her forgiveness.
“LET THE WORLD BURN (WITH G-EZAY & ARI ABDUL) - REMIX” BY CHRIS GREY
CHASE
It amazes me how time passes in here. It often feels like it drags, but then I look up and the sun is setting, and Luna is on her last round of treatment for the day. I stretch out my back, closing my laptop and placing it on the bedside cupboard next to me as I crack my neck. I’ve been spending my time between soothing Luna, holding her, and managing her care and future treatments.
She’s been napping on and off, and when I look at her now, she’s drowsy but awake, on her side facing me, studying me.
“Hey,” I softly say, brushing a curl off her face. I know why Thorn freaked out earlier. Her hair has already become a little brittle, and I haven’t missed the clumps left on her hairbrush after she’s used it. Just like our mom, she’s losing it, and I know that is something Mom hated, and I’ve no doubt Luna will too.
“Hey,” she replies, her eyelids fluttering as I brush her cheek with my thumb. I can’t get enough of touching her; the need is beyond physical.
“How are you doing?” I ask. My brothers are both dozing, Blade on the pull-out bed and Thorn on the couch. There’s not much else to do here really, and the emotional toll is makingus all exhausted. Not that we’d be anywhere else, but I am surprised how hard it’s been, watching her go through this, not knowing if all the pain will pay off.
She parts her lips, then shuts them and sighs. “I’m scared for next time. This feels tougher than last time, more draining. Although having you guys with me is making a huge difference.”
I give her a soft smile, shuffling down the bed so my head is on the pillow and I’m facing her, but being careful of her IV lines coming from the other side.
“And we will be there at the next one too. You aren’t alone in this, Luna, no matter what happens,” I assure her, and her hand reaches out to take mine, our fingers tangling together.
“I know. It’s just a part of me wants to give up now because this is so hard, and it’s only going to get worse.” The words are whispered, and I know she doesn’t really mean them, because our new stepsister is a fighter. Just look at how she faced off against us every time we were assholes to her. She’s no quitter, and I tell her as much.
“I get it, but you’re a fighter, Luna May Wilder, and we aren’t about to let you give up.” She smiles at me, making my insides heat like the summer sun just came out from behind a cloud. “Plus, it’s not aligned with your best interests. So we can revisit options if you like, but this is the best course of treatment for you. So while I appreciate your perspective, trust me when I say that I know best.”
Her eyes narrow at me, and I breathe a sigh of relief. There she is, our moon goddess, our blazing sun. My lips must twitch because she rolls her eyes at me. “I know your game, Chase Banks. Thorn tries to distract me with laughter, and you try to piss me off by being an overbearing asshole.”
“I do, do I?” I ask, raising a haughty brow, and she chuckles.
“Yeah, like that,” she huffs, her lips all puffed out, and I can’t fight the urge anymore.
I close the distance between us, placing my lips on hers, and she moans into my mouth as my hand places hers on my chest so I can cup her cheeks and deepen our kiss.
She tastes like starlight, and I lose myself in her, exploring the galaxy that exists inside her, wishing I could be inside her too, because that’s when I feel like I’ve come home. Alas, now is not the time, so with great reluctance, I pull away from her, resting my forehead against hers.
“I would do anything, be anything for you, Star. I would catch the moon and give it to you if you asked,” I confess against her lips, the feelings I have for this woman overwhelming me.
“I’m scared of this too,” she utters against my lips, and I pull back, just enough so I can stare into those big blue eyes of hers. “I’m scared that this isn’t real, or that it is but I won’t be around long enough to truly enjoy it.”
“We aren’t letting you go anywhere, Star,” I tell her, my voice a fierce vow. “That’s not even an option, and as for this not being real…” I take an inhale. Feelings aren’t easy for me, she’s right about them being scary, downright terrifying most of the time, but I will get over my fear to show her that she doesn’t need to worry about this thing at least. “It wouldn’t feel like I can’t breathe without you next to me if it wasn’t real. It wouldn’t feel as though I’ve been living in darkness, in a black hole, and have just emerged into the most wonderful universe that is bursting with potential. This is real, Luna. Believe that if nothing else.”
Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears, her tongue darting out to lick her dry lips.
“Okay, Chase,” she agrees softly, the low light in the room making this moment feel private, just between us.
We continue to stare into each other’s eyes, just breathing the other in until sleep overtakes her, and I only let my eyes close when her breathing is deep and she’s settled. I don’t want to miss a single moment, because as much as I want to rage againstthe idea that she’s going anywhere, a part of me knows that it is a very real possibility, and that makes what we have all the more precious.
“WILDFIRE” BY SYML
THORN
A piercing, feminine scream jerks me awake, my heart thrashing as I sit up in the single pull-out bed to find Luna shaking and teary in Chase’s arms. She looks at him in a daze, like she almost doesn’t know who he is, before her vision clears.
