Page 118 of Kings Against the World

“It should’ve been me,” I mutter, voice hoarse, stomach churning. “Boone should’ve come forme, not her.”

“Men like Boone are pieces of shit. They go after whoever they think will break their enemy most.”

“It’s not enough that I killed him. Not if Zoe doesn’t make it.”

“She will. And look…” Mace draws in a breath, using the second to sort out what he wants to say. “It’s my bad for acting the way I have. Toward youandZoe. I’ve been a huge asshole about what’s been happening.”

“I deserved it. I’m not exactly innocent. Me and my benders, going off and making trouble, getting involved with Boone…”

“Yeah, but you’re a brother. You’re one of us. You’ve been fighting demons. I should’ve been more understanding. It ain’t like I don’t have demons of my own.”

“It’s alright,” I say. “We’re good. Even if you swung on me.”

The corner of Mace’s mouth pulls back in a slight grin. “You threw some jabs yourself.”

The elevator doors open and Cash strides into the waiting room, his expression tight with concern. He heads straight for us, running a hand through his shoulder-length golden hair to push it out of his face. “Any news yet?”

We both shake our heads.

Cash exhales, shoulders tense. “Korine and Sydney send their well wishes. Told me to tell you they’ve got Zoe’s back, whatever she needs.”

I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “Appreciate it.”

A silence stretches between the three of us, heavy with everything we don’t say. Then Cash speaks, voicing his thoughts aloud. “This whole thing is far from over, you know. Boone’s gone but Wheels is alive and well… somewhere. He’ll be back for another round.”

“We need to stay tight,” Mace says. “Keep our guard up. Who knows what’s next.”

I stand abruptly, the restless energy inside me too much to sit still. My boots scuff against the tile as I start pacing, handsgripping the back of my neck. The waiting is killing me. Every minute’s begun to feel like a fucking lifetime.

What the hell’s taking so long?

As if aware of the impatient thoughts running through my head, the ER nurse returns with a calm expression and clipboard in hand. “I’m happy to say I have some updates regarding your fiancée. She’s in stable condition. The doctor performed surgical suture to close her wounds. Luckily, none of her organs were damaged. She’ll remain in the hospital for the next forty-eight hours for observation. The stab wounds were quite deep, so we want to keep an eye on her and make sure there’s no infection or internal bleeding.”

Relief crashes into me so hard I almost feel dizzy. I nod, clearing my throat, my voice rougher than before. “Can I see her?”

The nurse gives me a small smile. “Give it a few minutes. I’ll come get you when she’s settled.”

I nod again, forcing myself to breathe, but it still doesn’t feel real. The tension in my chest doesn’t fully recede. It won’t until I set eyes on her and confirm she’s really okay.

Mace claps me on the back. “Told you she’s tough.”

“Yeah,” I say, huffing out a delirious laugh. “Yeah, she is. Fucking tough as nails.”

Cash nudges my arm. “You going to be alright?”

I rub a hand over my face again, exhaling sharply. “Not ’til I see her.”

Zoe’s awake when I tap my knuckles on the door to her hospital room. Her eyes lift to mine, and the relief is so damn immediate and intense that I have to pause for a second to steady myself.The last time I’d seen her she’d been bleeding out with an open gash on her stomach, the life draining from her by the second.

To see her awake and alert is such a rush of relief that it almost feels too good to be true.

She’s sitting up in the hospital bed, her braids draped over her shoulders and an IV in her arm. They’ve put her in one of those paper-thin hospital gowns and she’s got scratches and bruises marring her dark brown skin from tonight’s confrontation, but she’s okay.

She’s alive.

Her lips fucking curl at the sight of me, like she’s just as relieved to see me as I am her.

The weight that’s been pressing on my chest lifts just enough for the air to get through, my breaths coming out steadier. I step toward her bed and mutter, “Fuck… miracles do happen.”

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