Page 184 of Until We Burn
Matthias prattles on, “Now, Edward and I are not completely merciless. You can still go on and live your lives under a few conditions.”
He draws out a plane ticket from his blazer. “Since you have nothing here, you can go back to that little island of yours and forget all about this. If you do that, Diana can do whatever she wants here.”
“But we’ll be watching you closely. If you refuse or defy this offer, Diana will spend the rest of her life serving the HMG in a low tier position,” Bàba adds. No mercy or remorse underlies his words. “The choice is up to you.”
Rage shatters all of my hope that things might work out for Kai and me, that the daydreams in my head might one day become reality. But now reality lies before us, broken up by an ultimatum that only serves bàba and Matthias.
If Kai returns to Mo’orea, he’ll never be a threat to Simon on the ice. If he refuses to go, bàba will shackle me to his control.
Whatever decision we make, one of us will lose what matters to us most.
“I’ll go.”
Kai steps forward, certain and undaunted.
I shake my head. I frantically grab his jersey and tug him back to me.“No.I’mnotletting you give up your dream for me, Kai! You’ve spent your whole life fighting to play in the NHL and you’re going to do it.”
Kai softens. “Uncle Manu was right when he said every hockey player has to play their last game.” His thumbs brush my cheeks as he holds me close. “I’ve had my whole life to do what I really wanted. It’s your turn now, Di. Go start that media outlet.”
I can’t let him give this up. As much as I’ve lost these last few months, none of it compares to what Kai endured the last four years of his life.
I desperately turn to bàba. “I’ll work for the HMG. I’ll do whatever you want if you let him play.”
“Di,listento me.” Kai wrests my attention back to him. Desperation flashes in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter if I stay. I can’t watch you go back to the life that you worked so hard to fight your way out of.”
“We were supposed to have a million more dates with sparklers,” I croak. “Kai, don’t do this.Don’t go.”
His hands start to shake. Kai pushes on regardless.
“We’ll have our dates someday, I swear.” He tips his forehead against mine, whispering just quietly enough for me to hear. “Until we burn, remember?”
My tongue trembles under the weight of the words. A tear pricks my parting lips.
“Until we burn.”
“It’s settled then.” Bàba nods at his guards. “Take him away.”
The guards grab Kai and push him out of the room. I scramble after them. Other guards force me back, tightening their hold the harder I kick out and flail.
“P-Please!” I beg. “Let me go with him!”
Kai nears the door. He stubbornly stops to look back at me withthat smile I’ve always loved. It’s as soft and warm as those dark green eyes I love so much.
Then, he’s gone.
KAI
Kai, don’t do this. Don’t go.
No matter how far away I am, I can still see and hear Diana calling out for me. I want to tear out of this car and run back to her. The urge pressures every muscle and bone to punch the guards and bolt even if I know it’s fucking impossible to escape on foot without getting caught.
You know it’s not just that. If you go back there, Diana pays the price.
My hands curl into fists, wrestling down the urge to break the deal.
Someday, Iwillfind a way back to her. For now, I’ll gladly walk through hell if it means Diana has a shot at living the life she deserves.
Tears rake down my face. I quickly brush them away and look up.
