Page 140 of May: Bloom & Bane

He doesn’t answer.

Ten minutes, Sage, I choke out. I had ten minutes with our mate. And you want to punish me for that? To take her away from me completely?

You scared me, he whispers.

You scare me every day, I growl. Every time you take control, and I can’t. Every time she looks at you, and I’m invisible. Every time I feel her slipping away because I don’t have a body to hold her with.

Sage’s anger begins to crack.

I didn’t realize that it was that bad for you, he says finally.

How could you? I say bitterly. When you’ve never asked.

We fly in silence for several minutes.

I’m still angry, he admits. You terrified me, and you still took her without warning. That doesn’t just… go away because you explained why.

I know.

But I— he struggles with the words. I understand why you did it now. But if you ever do something like that again, I won’t wait for Therael. I will figure out how to pull you out of my skin myself.

Sage, if you think I would allow you to take a single breath after you cut me out of our body and tried to keep our mate to yourself, you’re not playing a game you can win. You might be the heartbeat, but I am the blood—and I’m done being pushed out of my own veins.

Are you threatening me? His voice drops.

I am matching you, I rasp. Threaten to cut me out again, and I’ll drag you down with me.

You’re insane.

No. I am done being treated like I’m disposable.

You’d kill us both? He asks in disbelief. Rather than let me keep her safe?

I am what keeps her safe. Or have we forgotten that? The meadow? The Horsemen? Who pushed the partial shift? I hiss.

We can’t keep threatening each other, he says suddenly.

A long pause stretches between us as the house comes into view.

You’re right, he admits. About protecting her. I know I need you. I know she needs you. He swallows hard. I was just so scared. And I lashed out.

And I should have told you, I admit. Before pulling her into the void. Even if I needed that time with her… you deserved to know what I was doing.

We land in silence, Eden still sleeping peacefully in his arms.

We’re not okay yet, Sage whispers.

No, I agree. But we will be.

CHAPTER 40

i love you, too

—SAGE

Icarry Eden through the house as quietly as I can, her body warm against my chest. She’s breathing steadily now, her heart rate is normal, and there’s color back in her cheeks.

She’s fine, and I nearly lost my mind thinking otherwise.