“Well, don’t ever do anything like that again, do you hear me?”
“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
“Don’t worry.”
He pressed a swift kiss into my mouth. “The light chased away the darkness.”
Yes. I’d finally died to the evil and lived to the light.
“But your father. Your grandfather. Kelly. They ashed when you touched them with the flames.”
True. I’d put my glowing hands on all three men, and they’d ashed. “My dad and grandfather were fully zombie, with no humanity left. And Kelly had destroyed his own humanity with his actions. I was still fighting.” A thought occurred to me. “Have you ever put your hands on another slayer like that?”
“No. Never. We were too afraid we’d burn each other.”
I sat up, surprised to find there was no ensuing dizziness, no weakness. Just pure, unadulterated strength. Actually, I’d never felt better.
Check off list: kill Z.A., survive.
I flexed my fingers, popped the bones in my neck. “There isn’t a trace of the zombie toxin,” I said, marveling. “I don’t need the antidote. I don’t need anything. I’m one hundred percent racer ready.”
His violet gaze studied my face. “You look it. The bruises have fled. The chapped lips are gone. The gauntness has even left you.”
We’d had the power to do this all along; we just hadn’t known it. Now I suspected none of us would ever need the antidote again. We wouldn’t have to worry about developing an immunity to it. We wouldn’t ever have to stop fighting the zombies. We could help each other. Strengthen each other.
Someone would have to get bitten, and we would have to try this again to be sure, but deep down I knew I was right. Even Mr. Holland would be able to fight the zombies again.
Kat shoved her way through the crowd, shoved Cole aside and threw her arms around me. “You’re healed!”
I hugged her back.
And there was Reeve, wrapping her arms around me, and then the three of us were jumping up and laughing. I wanted this for Kat, couldn’t stand the thought of losing her to kidney disease. What would the fire do to her, though? Would we kill her if we touched her, a nonslayer, with the flames?
What I knew: she was going to die if we didn’t.
I bet I could read the journal now. The answer might be inside it.
“Okay. My turn.” Cole pried me out of the girls’ arms and pulled me into the locker room. He faced me.
Before he could speak, I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my mouth into his.
His hands wrapped around my waist and lifted me, even as he pressed my back into the wall. I wound my legs around him and drew him ever closer. The kiss deepened, our tongues rolling together, sure and confident, driving me crazy with heat and sweetness and sensation.
His strength surrounded me. He was all that I knew, all that I wanted to know. We were the only two people alive. And we were together. Now, always.
“You need to sleep in your old bedroom tonight,” he said. “I’m sending everyone home and sneaking in.”
“Don’t want Kat and Reeve to hear your best moves?”
“Don’t want Kat and Reeve to hear the way you respond to my best moves.”
Oh, my.
“Are we officially back together?” I asked.
“I should spank you for even saying that. We’ve been together this whole time. You were just being stubborn.” He kissed his way down my neck. “I’ve never been so scared in my life, Ali. I’ve been trying to hold it together, but watching you spiral, then watching you fade and not knowing what to do...” He shuddered.
“I told you to have faith.” I nibbled on the lobe of his ear. “We survived and we learned. We’re stronger than ever now.”
He moaned, tilting his head to allow me better access. “Against the zombies, yes. But what about Anima? They’re still out there, and they have to be stopped for good.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said. “Right now you’re going to kiss me until I have a permanent impression of your lips on mine. Then you’re going to send everyone home. Then you’re going to sneak into my room, as promised. Then you’re going to show me just how much you love me.”
“Consider it done. But if someone interrupts us tonight, I’m going to... I’m not sure there’s an action violent enough.”
I laughed.
He softened. “I love when you laugh. It’s the perfect birthday present.”
My eyes widened. “Today’s your birthday?”
“No. January ninth.”
A few days ago. I’d missed it, I realized, and frowned. “Cole—”
“No. You were sick, and I wasn’t going to celebrate without you.”
“Well, you’re eighteen. Legal. You’re getting a party,” I said. “A surprise party.”
He was the one to laugh this time. “Then why are you telling me about it?”
“Oh, just shut up and kiss me.”
* * * * *
A Note From Cole
I’d rather not write this. You want to know how I feel. You want to know, in minute detail, why I did what I did, what happened behind the scenes, what I think of my mistakes, the outcome and what I plan to do next. You want me to describe the things I’m desperate to do with Ali.
Why don’t you just take my sac, instead? The result will be the same.
I’m not a bare-your-heart-to-strangers kind of guy, and that’s not going to change, so I’m not going to give you what you want. No, I’m not sorry.
I know this proves everything you’ve heard whispered about me. I’m too hard-core. I’m only nice to a select few. I’m mean, bossy. I’m not an easy guy to like. Some people can take me, but most would rather leave me.
I don’t really care.
I am what life has made me.
Besides, you’re wrong about all of it—I’m worse.
Here’s what I will tell you: I’ve seen and done things that would make you vomit. I spend the majority of my time in the shadows, and sometimes darkness clings. Sometimes it’s hard to shake off. But most important, I will die to protect what’s mine—better yet, I will kill.
Ali is mine.
If you’re out there, Anima—and I know that you are—if you’re planning to make another move against my girl, you had better be prepared to battle the beast you’ll wake. I will hunt you, and I will not stop. I will take you out one by one, until the last of you is gone.