Page 168 of Hunted By the Dead King
I nodded, not sure if I fully believed it yet.
“I’m free, Nollie. This place, the river, it’s a divide, a middle ground. I only stayed here because of you, because I knew you were still with Dahes. But now that you’re free to live, I’m free to move on. We are both free.”
I shook my head, tears falling down my cheeks, mixing with the water.
“I love you, Masin.”
“I love you more, Nollie.”
“I love you most,” we said in unison, and it seemed so real, so much like we did every night when we were younger that I forgot for a second we weren’t on the streets of Moriann, huddled together for warmth.
I wanted to say so much more, but Masin was gone. He left, and I knew he did it on purpose. I wouldn’t have had the strength to if he hadn’t first. Even though I was older, he was always the stronger one. Stronger willed, more resilient.
Suns, he didn’t deserve this.
I swam to the surface and nearly crumbled when I saw Hael waiting for me. He instantly grabbed me, pulling me onto his lap, not caring that I was getting him wet.
We stayed like that. He didn’t stop holding me until I stood. It was a while before I could talk, before I could tell him what happened. He listened to everything, not interrupting or asking me to repeat myself even though I knew it was difficult for him to understand me through my tears. He was patient, understanding, kind—it was why I knew I was going to be okay. Because even if it wasn’t today, or tomorrow, or next month, I was going to be happy.
Hael and I were going to live onehellof a life, and when my time came, I was going to tell Masin all about it.
I was going to live forhim.
