Page 113 of Her Unending Horizon

He ended the call and looked at me carefully.

“Simon thought it was brilliant.”

I could feel heat crawling up my spine, into my neck, behind my eyes.

Smoke wasn’t just coming out of my ears—I was pretty sure I was about to combust.

“I need air,” I said.

“Chloe—”

“I need air,” I repeated, grabbing my jacket.

I didn’t wait for permission.

The park was quiet.

Late morning in May had softened everything—trees heavy with new leaves, the smell of cut grass and honeysuckle.

The illusion of peace.

I sat on a swing and pushed off with one foot.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

My hands trembled as they wrapped around the chains.

I wasn’t angry.

Not really. I’d burned through my anger.

I was terrified.

Terrified that Zarek was walking into something that had already killed one man.

Terrified that loving him meant accepting that sometimes he’d choose danger for the right reasons—and those reasons didn’t make it hurt less.

Terrified that no matter how strong I was, I couldn’t shield him from everything.

I leaned my temple against the cold metal chain and breathed.

“I don’t want to lose you,” I whispered to no one.

That was the truth underneath everything.

When I finally stood, my legs felt steadier.

I headed back.

When I opened my apartment door, voices greeted me.

Zoe’s laugh.

Simon’s low murmur.

Zarek’s voice—tight, controlled.