Page 68 of Lust

Panic filled screams begin to mingle with the sound of raining debris, heightening my anxiety.

“I don’t know. Just stay still. This is the safest spot; I'll keep you safe,” he reassures. I'm aware I’m still in Candice’s body because her long nails are currently digging into my palms as I squish myself against Dade’s chest.

The noise is deafening, and Dade’s body lurches with every impact. Fear and anxiety shudder through me as the Earthery shakes around us and it’s only Dade’s warmth that keeps me from a full-blown panic attack. The guy already has a damaged leg and now he’s making himself vulnerable for me… No, he’s protecting Candice.

“Why are you protecting me?” I ask, my voice trembling, as debris thunders down around us. “You hate me.”

His words cut through the cacophony of falling plaster and metal. “I don’t have to like you, but I won’t stand by and let you die because of the bastards that run this place,” he proclaims. I raise my gaze, locking eyes with him, only for his gaze to shift past my shoulder. My grip on him tightens as the world trembles beneath us. His disdain for Candice is crystal clear, yet here he stands, presented with an opportunity to let her die without consequence. Suddenly, the chaos falls silent.

“If I die, that’s one less person in the games for you to be up against,” I whisper. Dade's voice drops as he responds, “And if I let you die when I could save you, then I’m not worthy of leaving this place, and I deserve to stay in Hell.” He partially unfurls his wings, causing dust to cascade around us, making me cough. A sliver of light reveals his dust-covered face, with blood seeping through his hair. I long to reach out and check that he’s alright, but Candice wouldn’t, and this might still be part of the games.

He opens his wings fully and ruffles them. I gaze around, but all I see is dust settling like thick fog. “Just promise me one thing in exchange for saving your life.”

I turn around to find him gazing at me with a chillingly intense expression. “What?”

His tongue flicks over his lips, leaving a stain in the dust. “Leave Quinn Valentine be. I know you poisoned her in the last Circle.”

My heart pounds as I take in his words

“I thought you didn't care… give a shit about her anymore.”

“My feelings for Quinn are absolutely none of your business,” he retorts, his tone dark. There’s so much anger swirling in his eyes and now, his aura. “Do what you will to me, but keep Quinn out of this.”

The lights suddenly flash, then fully illuminate the scene, revealing the stark reality of the surrounding destruction.

“We need to get out of…”He pauses. “Valentine?”

I turn my eyes to meet Dade’s gaze, only to find him staring at me in shock and betrayal. I nod my head. “It was the trial. I had to pretend to be Candice.”

His expression almost breaks my heart with the pain I see in his eyes.

“Don’t panic.” Noémi’s voice echoes around the cavernous room, taking my attention away from Dade. As my gaze sweeps the area, I'm met with a sea of disoriented figures amidst the rubble and debris.

“If you can stand, get out of ‘ere now, ‘ead towards ze door. Go and wait outside,” Noémi instructs. “If you’re injured, I’ll ‘ave someone come to take you to ze ‘ospital weeng.”

A rush of electricity runs up my arm as Dade grabs my hand and begins pulling me towards the door. “Your leg!” I call out in horror, pulling him to a standstill.

“It's all right,” he insists, his voice low and intense.

“No, it's not all right,” I retort, my voice tense with worry. “It's obvious you can barely stand. And your head is bleeding too.”

He turns to me, his eyes filled with despair. “My leg is painful, but it’s fine,” he says between gritted teeth. “I need to get you out of here now.”

“Wait!” The words escape my lips as my gaze fixates on a pair of legs jutting out from beneath a fallen concrete pillar. Rowena and Juliette must be in here, somewhere, buried in the chaos. “Dade, there’s someone trapped.” I point to the legs.

“He’s already dead. Look.” He points to the other end of the concrete and I can just make out the top of someone’s head, crushed flat.

The reality of the devastation crashes over me, and I let out a sob. Dade puts his arm around me, pulling me into him. I breathe him in as I cling to him. My whole body is shaking.

“It’s not Remy, Quinn,” Dade says, mistaking my terror for fear of losing my boyfriend. Honestly, I hadn’t even thought about Remy since the quake started.

I pull back and look at Dade through tear-filled eyes. “I’m not dating Remy.” I shake my head. “We need to help get people out of here. You can’t walk, but you can fly.”

Dade gives me a grim look. “I’ll stay behind, but you have to get out of here. You need to get to safety.”

I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you behind.”

He grabs me by the waist and pulls me into him again, but this time, my feet leave the ground.

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