“I mean you’re right.” He tugs his lucky necklace, raking his other hand through his hair. “A week ago, I didn’t even believe in the Corrupter, and now … the closer we get to zero, the less I think I want any of this.” Standing up, Gunnar walks a few paces and turns back. “I don’t want to cross Viviane, but it’s not like you getting caught by Rasputin will help her out. And … and I don’t want you to die, Auggie.” With a helpless shrug, he looks at my feet. “If you promise not to do something stupid, I’ll help you save your parents.”

“You will?” I nearly fall off the couch. Maybe I should pretend to be all cool, like I knew I’d get what I want, but I can’t. “You’ll really help me?”

Gunnar struggles with his words for a moment. “Believe it or not, I wish this weren’t happening to you. Maybe that’s selfish—maybe I should be wishing it weren’t happening to anyone, but … you’re special.” Embarrassed, he continues to avoid my eyes. “I can’t protect you from Azazel, but this is something I can do.”

Before I can think twice, I’m off the couch and throwing my arms around him, so overjoyed that I don’t stop to consider how awkward the gesture might be. Gunnar freezes … but then he hugs me back, muscles shifting under the fabric of his T-shirt. Suddenly, all I can think about is how his body feels against mine, and how he smells like linen and fresh mint, and how very recently his tongue was in my mouth. And then I start getting an erection, and it’s incredibly inappropriate, because we were literally just talking about rescuing my parents from a murderous vampire, and what is wrong with me?

Gunnar pulls back first, and I wobble to the kitchen for another glass of water, my hormones and my brain cells crashing together like bumper cars. I still can’t figure out the futures I’ve seen, the shifting images of Jude and Gunnar in similar circumstances; I can’t figure out how I feel about either of them, or which vision I secretly hope comes true.

What if there is no destiny? What if there are multiple endings, all the time, and we just … stumble our way in and out of them? I don’t know who or what I want. I don’t know which of the two I’d rather kiss again. Truth be told, I think I want to kiss both of them—not because I’m developing feelings for them, necessarily, but because it turns out I really, really enjoy kissing someone I’m attracted to.

“The sun is almost up.” Gunnar hovers behind me in the doorway to the kitchen, watching me anxiously. “I’ll have to leave, and I … don’t think you should be here alone.”