Saving Eden (Original Series book 3)
Page 25
My health has slowly recovered since given the antidote to the super pDNA. The first several days were rough, and even though it hurt bone-deep to move every muscle, I made myself get out of bed. Colt was by my side every second. I don't know if I would've recovered as quickly without him and his constant encouragement.
"Sage?"
I turn around.
Colt walks toward me wearing a bathing suit and carrying a bucket in one hand and snorkeling gear in the other.
"What did you get?" I ask.
He smiles big, something I see on him more and more. "Enough crab for each of us to have two for dinner."
"Good job!"
He drops next to me in the sand. "I love it here."
"Mmm." I rest my head against his cool shoulder.
"How are you feeling?"
"Stronger."
He reaches over and slides his fingers into mine. "Have you heard from your father?"
"Not yet, but he'll call." My dad left ten days ago to Charlotte. He calls me daily, but it has been three days since his last phone call. No doubt he is super busy. Those who had heard about his work had flocked to Charlotte so they could be one of the first to get a cure for the Kiss, either for themselves or loved ones. I will go with Colt there soon for his. The oDNA injection my father gave him won't last forever.
It isn't just the people trying to heal themselves. All across the East, cities are under repair. The President kept half of the government's forces in the East to help rebuild the cities that had been destroyed, and the other half were sent to the West, specifically LA, to help defeat Abram Vortil, the leader of the Institute in the West. LA is a huge city with many Primes loyal to Abram. It will not be an easy battle.
Link is still there, but not as an active soldier anymore. Like me, he is still recovering but is further along in the process than me as he hadn't gotten as ill. Tank has him working in intelligence. Link probably hates this position, but it is safer this way. Tank calls often, mostly to speak with Colt. Even though Colt seems happy here, he's also getting restless. I know he feels a responsibility to be out there helping the men he's been fighting with for so long.
I sit up, resting my arms on top of my bent knees. "Do you think it's time you went West to join Tank and the others? I'm sure they could use your help."
Colt's brows draw together, and he stares at me. "I'm where I want to be."
I take hold of his hand, palm up, and with my other hand, I trace my fingertips across his flesh. "But what if I said I'm ready to go too?"
"Then I would say you're lying."
"I'm feeling better, Colt. Sure, I still get tired more easily than not, but that will change with time. Besides, I want to find a way to cure Max. My mother said that Techheads don't create something without knowing how to fix it. There has to be something out there that can help him."
"Do you trust her?"
I shrug a little. "She did save me."
My mom was allowed to stay with us for a few days during my initial recovery. During this time, my father and I had tried to convince her how wrong it was to use Fenoquel on people. Even though we had destroyed the Institute's supply, I had a sneaking suspicion she still had some hidden away.
It's hard to say if our words got through to her, as she believes Fenoquel is the only way to have a truly peaceful society. However, she did admit to me just before being escorted away by armed guards that she missed Max's smile. It's a start. Maybe someone could convince her in the West, where she would be questioned and tried for her crimes against Originals and Primes.
"Do you think Rafe will try to have her freed?" Colt asks.
"Maybe." It had been hard to hear my mother tell me about her relationship with Rafe. It had been going on for the last six months. Not only was it incredibly weird because of their age difference, but it was just one more thing to divide us.
"Jenna leaves tomorrow," I say. "I think we should go with her."
"Is this what you really want?"
"I do. We can take Max with us."
He considers my words, his gaze focused on the horizon. "This place has healed me. I'm afraid what will happen to me if I leave."
"You will keep being the strong man I know you are. Besides, no one is controlling us anymore. If we ever want to return, we can."
"Promise?"
"Absolutely."
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me on top of him as he lowers back into the sand. His eyes lock with mine. "I didn't know life could be full of so much joy or my heart so full of love until I met you. You changed me."
I lean in and kiss him lightly. "We're going to live a long and happy life, you and I."
"And I look forward to every second of it." His mouth lowers to mine, and I take in everything about him, my skin igniting in a fiery heat.
I don't know what the future holds, but I do know it is brighter than it has ever been before. No matter where we go or what we do, Eden will be in our hearts, and no one can ever take that away from us.
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Rachel McClellan
About the Author
Rachel currently lives in New Hampshire, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four children. Her love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…
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