Page 66 of Catalyst

My chest burned with every shallow breath I took, and my limbs felt completely immovable. I was trapped in my body, a prisoner to the heat and exhaustion that clung to me like a wet cloth over my face.

Was this what dying felt like?

And, if I died, who would take care of Sawyer? When Sulien’s mom died, he had his dad. But, if I died, my poor baby boy would be left completely and utterlyalone.

That thought scared me, but it was impossible to ignore. Every time I blinked, the edges of my vision seemed to grow darker. And right now, all I wanted wasmymen. I wanted Jace to hold me, and I wanted Kane to promise that everything would be alright, even if I knew it wouldn’t.

I just wantedthem.

The door creaked open, and I braced myself for yet another doctor to come poke and prod at me. They already had a group of students in here, showing off what the doctor liked to calla medical miracle. If it wasn’t for my super DNA, I would have diedfarbefore I got this hot.

But, as whoever walked in got closer, I was greeted with the musky scent of wood and raspberries, and that was something I’d learned was veryKane.

I swallowed hard as I forced myself to look over just in time to see him drag the support person chair closer to me.

“Don’t force yourself to move; you need to rest.” His voice was low and husky as he settled down.

“Where’s Jace?” I loved Kane, but having just him felt like an incomplete set.

“He uh… he’s a mess right now, Sweetheart.” Kane’s lips twitched as tears collected in his eyes.

They lasted for a moment as he pursed his lips, staring at the wall as if it had something written on it.

“Is it because of me?” I whimpered, the weight of my guilt forcing all the air from my lungs.

He nodded.

“But it’s not bad… he just–he loves you.” Kane swallowed hard before scrubbing a hand across his lips. “I love you.”

Hearing those words made me feel a little better, but something in the cadence of his voice made it feel more like a funeral toll.

“I love you too.” I swallowed my words.

“No–Callie. I need you to know that Ireallylove you.” Kane reached over, digging my hand out from under the blanket before taking it in both of his. He brushed his lips to my knuckles, his slight stubble prickling my skin. “The love I feel for you is the disgusting, cloying, all-consuming love. The type that makes you warp your goals and ambitions just to better suit what the other person needs.”

Kane’s words hit me like a wave, and not a warm one either. It was a cold, vicious one that threatened to drag me under the surface, so I’d never return.

“Why are you telling me that?” I squeaked through the tears once again rolling down my cheeks.

“You gotta go home, baby girl.” Kane’s voice cracked as he spoke.

Hearing that almost killed me. “But, I am home. You and Jace are my home.”

Growing up, I’d always been told that home is where the people who love you are. That meant there wasn’t a better place for me to be than in their arms.

But, Kane slowly shook his head. “We can’t take care of you how you need right now.”

“Why not? Am I too much of a burden? Just give me another chance–I can help around the house more or–”

“Stop.” He ordered, pressing his fingers to my lips. “You’re not a burden. Not now, not ever, andplease, for the love of God,neverlet those stupid fucking heroes make you feel like thatagain.”

His voice was firm but laced with so much pain it caused my chest to ache.

“You’re sick—Sawyer is making you sick.” The whites of Kane’s eyes were slowly turning red because of how hard he was fighting his tears. “And your dad said something about Aegis having a solution… but he won’t help if you don’t go home.”

The sadness he’d been denying finally escaped, and my stomach bottomed out as Shin’s words echoed in my mind. He had been right; my dad didn’t give a fuck who he hurt just as long as he got his way. How the hell was he supposed to be the good guy when he thought like that? And I was his daughter; shouldn’t I have been immune to that rule? Was he really going to let me die if I didn’t marry Trenton like he wanted?

My throat felt like sandpaper as I swallowed. “But I don’t want to leave you.”

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