Page 66 of Claimed By the Wraiths

The faint lines at his jaw brightened.

“You crawled through a conduit for me. You crossed deep void because you knew I was still here. You came through a gap the width of my thumb because apparently doors are optional when you’re being impossible.”

His breathing changed.

Not enough.

I bent closer until my forehead touched his.

“You covered me with a blanket on the Ghost. You kissed me in that ridiculous little cabin and your hands shook.”

The warmth under my palms spread.

“You told me you wouldn’t stop.”

My voice broke.

“And you still owe me what Mairuke means.”

The light strengthened, steady now instead of flickering.

The darkness at the edges of his face pulled back by a fraction.

“Come back.” Tears hit my hands. I didn’t wipe them away. “You made me a promise on the Ghost, Serak. I am holding you to it.”

The silver flared.

All at once.

Light ran across his face and down his neck, bright enough to throw pale reflections onto my fingers. The darkness fought. I felt it through the bond, the deep pull of the road trying to take every boundary with it.

I held on.

His next breath came deeper.

Then another.

His eyes focused.

He saw me.

“Jessa.”

His voice was raw, scraped thin, like he’d had to find it somewhere far away.

“Yes.”

“The upload.”

“It’s done. It’s everywhere. The research is burning.”

He closed his eyes.

This time it looked like closing his eyes, not disappearing.

His skin was warming under my hands.

The corner of his mouth moved.