Page 30 of The Last of Love

Excusing herself from the group, Fleur stepped away and approached Lena. “Hey, are you okay?”

Lena nodded, though she was still battling a storm of emotions inside her. “I wanted to talk to you. About everything.”

“Right now?” Fleur said, her tone growing serious. “What’s on your mind?”

Lena took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts as they moved to a quieter corner of the corridor. “I know we’ve made it here, and I fought to get you to this place… But what becomes of us now?”

“I want us to work, too,” Fleur said. “But I’m committed to making this cure for everyone. It’s not just about saving lives; it’s about understanding the virus, what it does, and how we can stop mutations, too. And being committed to this cure is dangerous. There are so many threats out there, and as long as I stay with you, we’ll both be in constant danger.”

Lena felt a pang in her chest at the thought of Fleur putting herself in harm’s way. She wanted to scream, to shake her, tosay that it didn’t have to be this way, but she knew that wouldn’t help. Instead she steadied herself, determined not to let Fleur slip away without a fight. “You’re not going to push me away that easily,” Lena said, her tone steady but tinged with urgency.

Fleur’s brow hardened, concern crossing her face. “Lena, you don’t understand. This is bigger than us. If I can make a breakthrough, if I can help?—”

“No, Fleur. You’re right. It is bigger than us,” Lena interrupted, stepping closer, her heart racing. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t face it together. I’m strong enough to protect you, and I won’t let anything happen to us.”

Fleur hesitated, her gaze wavering as she searched Lena’s eyes for some sign of uncertainty. “But what if somethingdoeshappen? I can’t let you put yourself at risk because of me. There are still others out there who will want to get in on this, at any cost. I can’t bear the thought of them harming you more than they have.”

Lena took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her emotions push against her. “I’d rather face danger with you than live a life without you. I can’t lose you now.”

A flicker of vulnerability crossed Fleur’s face, and Lena seized the moment, reaching out to touch her. “Please, Fleur. I want to be here with you.”

Fleur’s eyes softened as she leaned into Lena’s touch, her walls beginning to crack. “Lena… I don’t want to drag you into this. And what about the others? They might have been in danger because of Dr. Walt.”

“I’m already in it,” Lena replied, her voice steady. “I’m in this with you, whether you like it or not. You know that. I will make contact with the community, but you’re my priority.”

Fleur’s hard expression wavered, the tension between them growing as she contemplated Lena’s words. Lena could see theconflict within her, the weight of responsibility battling with the desire for connection. “But the lab… the people here?—”

“Who says we can’t make it work?” Lena interjected, her heart pounding. “We’ll find a way. You can work here, and I’ll protect you. It’s that simple. I’ll find out about my community and get things in place there. We need each other.”

“But the risks…” Fleur started, her voice trailing off as she met Lena’s unwavering gaze.

“The risks will always be there,” Lena said fiercely. “But what about us? What about what we have? Isn’t that worth fighting for? I can’t go back to my life without you, and I don’t want to. I’ve made my choice. Everything we’ve been through. And… and I don’t open up to anybody. And now I’ve opened up to you.”

Fleur’s expression softened further, and Lena felt a rush of hope.

“Lena, what about the people who are after me? What if they kill us all?”

“Let them come,” Lena declared, her heart pounding in her chest. “As long as I’m with you, I can face anything. We can be a team, Fleur. I won’t let anyone take you from me. I’m highly trained and I can get my folk here to help build a defense.”

Tears glistened in Fleur’s eyes, and she looked away, trying to mask her emotions. “You have no idea what you’re asking for.”

“Actually, I do. I know exactly what I’m asking for,” Lena replied softly, brushing a strand of hair behind Fleur’s ear. “I want you to trust me. I want you to let me be there for you. Because I love you, and that’s not something I can just walk away from.”

Fleur inhaled sharply, the confession hanging in the air between them. “You really mean that?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Lena nodded, her heart open and raw. “Yes, I do. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Fleur took a step back, breaking their connection as she processed Lena’s words. “I… I don’t know if I can let you in like that.”

“This world is awful. Life is precious and love is almost non-existent. So I'll say it again. I love you, Fleur. No matter what. And I want to be with you through all of this. I wanted to hold my feelings back the whole time we’ve been together, but instead they’ve just grown. We can make it work. I promise.”

Fleur moved closer, gripping onto Lena’s hand. “If I'm being honest, I Iove you, too. And that’s why I'm so scared of hurting you again. When I found you slumped on that wall, I thought you were gone. My heart felt… broken.”

“So, please just try? Please let me in, and let me help you?” Lena smiled.

“Okay, I’m willing to try,” Fleur whispered, leaning her head against Lena’s chest.

12

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