Page 81 of Where We Ended

“You were in a different world. If I had come knocking on Simon Stone’s door, demanding you back, it would have started a war. Especially because Dirk was still alive, and he was the one that Simon made the deal with.”

“How nice of you to choose when and how you choose to follow club politics.” I pushed the hair away from my face. I knew I wasn’t being entirely fair, but I also hated that there was a whole group of people that seemed to know what Silas had been planning with his father, and it didn’t include me.

“Why are you upset about this? We’re going to find him, and we won’t?—”

I pushed at his chest so I could get some air. He sidestepped, allowing me to pass, so I began pacing.

“I’m upset because I feel like I keep getting fragments of you, Silas. Tiny pieces that get stolen from me the moment they land in front of me.”

His steady gaze moved with me as I continued to pace.

“Caelum.”

I shook my head, a tear sliding free. “Don’t call me that. Just call me Natty. You’ve made me think that one day we’d have this amazing life, Silas. This beautiful love story. Yet I’ve been here waiting for you to come and get me, and you never have. You never did. I was taken from you. That is the only reason you came for me. I am a tiny speck of dust on your map of domination and plans.”

“Will you stop it?” Silas moved in again, his hands going to my hips, and his chest covering mine. “Stop saying this shit. You don’t even understand what I’ve done to be with you, to be free…to have the Death Raiders just so I have an army to fight him with. If I go from you, it’s only to ensure you’re safe. I’m never far, and it’s never for long. You’re acting like I want to be away from you.”

It felt like he did, but I knew those were my own insecurities.

Closing my eyes, I inhaled a sharp breath.

“I know you want to, but I also know that you have some overreaching plan for Fable. I always thought you were going to leave him behind back then…but you kept returning. We nearly ended because of it, Silas.”

The silence between us grew and Silas pushed a hand through his unruly hair.

“We don’t end, Caelum. We just keep going, we’re like the roots that hold the crust of this fucking earth together. Bound to one another.”

Until an earthquake or something came along and shook the crust apart.

“It doesn’t matter, Silas. We can be in love and want to be together, but Fable is still coming for me. He wants you to leave me here.”

“Honestly, it’s difficult not to leave you here, Natty. You have a family, people who love you and care about you. A better life than what I could give you.”

My stomach clenched with nerves at the confirmation that he did plan to leave me.

I focused on the ground as his words made a home inside me, and when he walked closer to tip my chin back, I glared at his stoic features.

“Would you leave your Raiders for me?”

Silas paused with his hand resting on my neck, his jaw tensing. “I need them to fight him…once he’s gone, I would. In a heartbeat.”

“Who will the Destroyers go to? Aren’t you worried about someone just taking his place?”

A sad laugh escaped his lips as he tipped his head back.

“No, Caelum. I’m worried about someone taking my place here, with you. You’re the only thing that’s ever mattered to me. I know you think that’s not true because of how I lost you, but it is. I want the best thing for you. I want you to have everything, all the happiness you possibly could withstand in a singular lifetime.”

This felt like goodbye, and I refused to accept it.

Stepping forward, I relished the way the wind picked up and brushed against my face.

“You’re it.”

His eyes narrowed as my hand went over his heart. “I’m what?”

“All the happiness I could possibly withstand in a singular lifetime. You’re all of that. Let’s leave, just forget the Raiders, the Destroyers, all of it. Run with me, and let’s start over.”

“What about Penelope and Connor, or your job at The Drip? What about your baking with Red, and your kitchen here?” His voice dropped in challenge, his eyes hardening with that obstinate glare he always used with me.

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