Let the Sky Fall (Sky Fall #1)(89)

The storms slowly calm and the clouds clear, bringing back the sun. Normal winds surround us, singing of hope and relief. But Vane still feels like ice.

How long can he stay like this?

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He groans into my chest.

“I mean it, Vane. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He shakes his head, and the motion rocks his whole body. I squeeze him tighter.

I can’t imagine what he must be feeling. I’ve never killed anyone—and I’m not a Westerly.

I have to say something. Help him. But what magical combination of words will make him okay again? Bring back the funny, obnoxious boy I’ve grown to love?

Love.

I haven’t let myself love anyone—not since my father died.

But I love Vane Weston. And I won’t lose him. I can’t. I won’t be able to survive it.

I try to make him look at me, but his eyes are distant. Lost.

“You saved us, Vane. You made the greatest, most wonderful sacrifice anyone has ever made. You saved me.”

My voice leaves me. I’m overwhelmed by what he did for me. By his proximity. By everything.

He doesn’t move. His eyes stay glazed.

My stomach knots as I realize what he needs. I’m afraid to say it, but I take his shaking hands and coil our fingers together.

He has to be Vane again.

“I love you,” I whisper.

Something pulls in my chest as the words leave my lips, but they taste sweet.

True.

“I’ve tried so hard not to love you that I’ve driven us both crazy. But I love you. And I don’t want to lose you. So please come back to me. Please don’t leave me.”

My voice hitches and I choke back a sob. “I need you. I’ve never needed anyone—but I need you.”

I stroke his face as my words trail to silence.

Silence.

His sobs have stopped. So has his shaking.

I hold my breath as I meet his eyes, afraid of what I might see.

Vane stares at me. Unsure. Weary.

But it’s him again.

My turn to cry.

He reaches up, smoothing my hair. Wiping my tears.

“I really thought I lost you this time,” I whisper. “I’ve lost you so many times, so many different ways. I can’t do it again.”

“You won’t have to,” he promises.

Yes, I will.

He puts his finger on my lips, stopping me before I can say it out loud.

“Whatever you’re going to say, let me say something first.” He takes a ragged breath and sits up on his own, wiping the sand from his face.

He takes my hands. “I’m barely holding it together right now—and the only thing keeping me from losing it all over again is you. So I don’t care about laws or oaths or betrothals. I care about you. I need you.”

We stare at each other, neither daring to move. Holding our breath.

“I won’t force you,” he tells me.

I know what he’s asking me to do—and I want to do it. Oh, how I want to.

But can I? Should I?

I study his hands. His eyes. His mouth.

There are so many things about him I want. But that’s it. I want him. All of him.

Who has the right to keep us apart? To tell us it’s wrong? That we don’t belong together, when everything about us proves we do. There’s something between us—something deeper than the Gales. Than our laws. Than my oath.

I’m tired of denying it.

So I lean forward. His hands cup my face, soft enough that I can pull away if I want to.

I don’t want to.

I close my eyes and take one more breath. Then I press my lips against his.





CHAPTER 55


VANE


All the times I imagined this moment, I never got it right.

Her lips are sweeter and softer, and they fit against mine like we were formed that way. Everything about us matches. Our breathing. Our movements. And the heat. The delicious fire that ripples through my body before it rushes back to hers.

She clings to me as hard as I cling to her, her hands sliding down my back as I grab her waist and press her against me, so there’s no space between us. I’ll never let anything separate us again.

Now I know why they call it “bonding.”

As we burn and connect, parts of her meld to me. Her strength. Her determination. Her honor. They flow to the cracks in my heart and fill them. Heal the places the violence crushed and shattered. Make me whole. I know I’m doing the same for her.

We were two broken, incomplete people.

Now we’re one.

No one will ever understand me the way she will.

No one will ever understand her the way I will.

And no one will be able to change that. We’ve melted together and been reforged into something stronger. Something better.

My hands slide back up to her face, stroking her cheeks before they move to her hair. I want to unravel her stupid braid, let the silky strands fall free so they can tickle my skin. But it’s not worth breaking away. I want to stay right here, right now. Holding her against me. Our lips moving together in a perfect rhythm. Never letting go.

Audra’s the one who finally pulls away—like I knew it’d have to be.