Page 69 of Born to Bleed

She continued tracing his scars, brushing her nails through his hair, scratching his neck and shoulders. “You looked upset when you first came in earlier.”

He stiffened, just a bit, then relaxed onto her again. She waited, knowing how he worked, how he processed. Knowing he needed time to work it out in his head.

When he sat up on the bed, turning so that he faced her, her heart beat a little faster in her chest.

“My brothers and I discussed our next move, today.”

“Ah, so that’s what took you so long.”

He nodded. “We think it’s time to attack the Eastern Front. To try and take it all.”

Anna took a sharp inhale of air, surprise spreading through her. The entire Eastern Front? But, it was so big, and… and then the excitement set in. Taking back the Eastern Front, taking down the UNR’s main stronghold. That would change everything. A smile spread across her face. “When do we leave?”

Hayden stared at her for a moment, his eyes searching hers. “You’ll fight?”

She scoffed. “Of course I’ll fight.” There was no doubt in her mind that Hayden would be on the frontlines, rightfully so, and there was no way she’d be leaving him to do that on his own. “Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.”

“But… you realize how dangerous it will be?”

A roll of her eyes. “No, I thought it would be like picking daisies.” She laughed.

Hayden didn’t seem all that amused.

“If you wanted to stay here, I’d understand. I’d stay with you, and—”

She held up her hand. “I need to stop you right there.” She inched closer to him. “This movement means everything to you. Even if I didn’t want to fight, I’d never ask you not to. I don’t want you to change for me.” She smiled softly, eyes falling to his lips before moving back to his eyes. “I want you for who you are. And this is a huge part of who you are Hayden.”

She kissed him, unable to stop herself. “Besides, I need a little excitement in my life. I like a good fight.”

Hayden chuckled, his shoulders finally falling, a heavy weight obviously lifting off his features. “That you do.”

She grinned, leaning into him as he kissed her again. “Plus, the more I fight with other people, the less I’ll have to fight with you.”

His tongue flicked against her lower lip, pulling a gasp from her. “Well then it sounds like we have to fight. For the sake of our relationship.”

“For the sake of our relationship,” she breathed against his mouth.

And then he was devouring her once more, kissing her so deeply it made her head spin.

“I love you, Anna,” he groaned against her mouth, barely breaking the kiss.

“I love you, too,” she smiled into his lips. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be happy.” And she meant it.

He took her lips again, but this time, neither one of them broke the kiss, giving into the need they felt for each other, savoring this moment, knowing that soon, it would be gone.

But there would be more.

There was hope. There was love. There was joy to be had.

There was an entire future ahead for the two of them, and Anna was going to enjoy every moment of it.

Epilogue

Kayla watched as people hugged, talked, cried. All around her, people gave bittersweet goodbyes to their loved ones, some of whom were marching into battle, while others stayed behind to care for things at home. Home. It wasn’t a place, it was a person. And hers, her father… he was gone. Would all these people around her, waving goodbye and putting on brave faces, lose their homes, too? Learn only too late that they should’ve fought harder? Begged longer? Done anything possible to keep those they loved from walking into danger?

Kayla choked down the emotions that were building up in her throat. She’d cried enough to last three lifetimes. She would not cry more today.

Especially not in front of him.

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