Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
I refused to choose only one of them, and I couldn’t be without any of them. Somehow, we would have to figure things out, but for now, I wanted to relax with Theo and let my worries slip away. I deserved a night to let go until getting back down to business because there were still things that needed to be done.
Schmidt was in the hospital after a bullet pierced his leg. He wouldn’t be back on campus for a few days, and I expected him to seek me out. I would deal with him then, though. He wasn’t someone for me to worry about any longer.
“There you are.”
I stopped in the middle of one of Stormcloud’s hallways, lifting my gaze to see Theo heading toward me from the other end of the hallway. A warm smile immediately made its way across my face as I met him halfway, wrapping my arms around his neck in a tight embrace. It felt so good to be back in his arms.
“Thanks for meeting me here,” I told him. I was glad that he felt safe enough to leave the cabin and fully return to Stormcloud. The four of us had each other’s backs, and no threat could break us apart. The Hurleys were gone, and we were stronger than ever.
“Of course. Zephyr and Sol would kill me if I left you alone,” Theo smirked as he curled his arms around my waist, hugging me close.
I laughed softly as we broke apart, sharing a warm look with each other. It was nice, feeling so protected and cared for. Their care for me helped me feel grounded, which was a relief after how much I had been spiraling lately. Between being kidnapped and killing Arvo, my life hadn’t experienced a pause in a while.
“That’s why I want you to stay all night with me,” I said as I slid my hands down his arms, admiring the lean muscle of his biceps.
Theo’s eyes swept over me, taking me in with an intrigued expression on his face. He took my hand and nodded eagerly.
“Lead the way,” he told me.
I guided him to my room, shutting the door behind us before glancing around at my new room. The walls were blank. My desk was empty. The only thing that I had managed to do was put sheets on the bed and my clothes in the closet. Eventually, it would look like my room, but decorating hadn’t been at the forefront of my to-do list.
“Kind of feels like our first day of school,” Theo murmured as he wandered around my room, taking in the blank state of it.
“It’s a new beginning for us,” I pointed out as I moved to sit on the edge of my bed. I patted the spot beside me to motion for him to sit beside me, our feet hanging off the edge. I remembered our early days together. We were so innocent, so captivated by each other. I loved him even deeper now.
Theo breathed in deeply and nodded.
“It’s hard to move on from some things,” he admitted with a solemn look on his face.
“Like your mom?” I asked gently as I peered at him. He had been through his own challenges throughout his years at Stormcloud. He found out who his parents were, watched one die, and faced off with the Kings more than once. He was strong for managing to remain standing through it all.
Theo bit the inside of his cheek as he nodded.
“I keep wondering what my life would be like if she had raised me,” he told me. “My childhood was simple and happy, but it was a lie.”
“She thought it would keep you safe,” I pointed out. “And it did.”
When I looked back at my life before I came to Stormcloud, it all seemed like some strange dream that I only saw in glimpses. Things were so different then, and I wasn’t prepared in any way to face what was ahead. I had no idea that my name would cause so many problems for me.
I didn’t regret my name or my father, though. What had to happen for us to reach this point of peace happened. There were things that I would’ve changed. I would’ve saved Gail and Simone. I would’ve fought harder for a better relationship with Sol, Theo, and Zephyr. I would’ve believed in myself more.
“The moment I came here is when things became dangerous,” Theo agreed. “But at least I know who I am now.”
“Who do you want to be?” I asked him. It was time to think of the future. We had spent so much time trying to clear up the past. Now that the picture was clear, it was time to make sure the past didn’t repeat itself.
“I want to be the change,” Theo told me, lifting his chin more as he brightened up. “I want to take this place and its dark past and reform it. We can take this place to a new level of glory.”