Page 56 of Molt

“Promise?”

I kiss her. “I’ll love you until there’s nothing left of me.”

The memory shatters and we’re back in the present.

Neither of us speaks.

Lenora’s hand remains against my chest. Her eyes filled with tears. “You said that.”

I can’t breathe. I’ve missed her so fucking much and that memory took my breath away.

“August.”

“Take your hand off me.”

“You promised.”

“Lenora.”

“You promised you’d love me until there was nothing left of you.”

“Take your fucking hand off me.” I growl.

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t understand what I was promising.”

She looks down.

My shirt is moving. Not from breathing. Something beneath my skin shifts.

Her hand jerks away and pain rips through my chest.

I grab the counter.

“August!”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fucking fine.”

Another movement under my ribs.

I grit my teeth and she reaches for me.

“No!” I yell.

She freezes.

I breathe through the pain. Once. Twice. It passes slowly.

When I straighten, she’s staring at me horrified.

“What did I do?”

“Nothing.”

“I kissed you.”