My eyes shutter closed, under the weight of exhaustion and delirium, and that's the last peaceful thought I have.

No, I won’t kill her.

I will keep her instead.

"Santiago."

A strangled groan rumbles from my chest as her fingers stroke my hair back from my face.

"Hmm?"

My eyes are so heavy, it is difficult to open them. But I can feel her weight in my lap. Her scent surrounding me. The warmth of her body pressing against mine.

"You need to sleep," she says softly.

I half nod. Sleep sounds good.

I'm not thinking clearly when I scoop her up into my arms and stagger to my feet. Ivy lets out a soft little laugh, and I freeze, opening my eyes to look at her.

"You're delirious," she says, amused. "Put me down."

"I've never heard you laugh." The words are strained when they leave my lips.

Her face sombers, and she gives me a gentle nod. "I know."

I force my rigid body forward, carrying her down the corridor and upstairs despite her protests. I'm not thinking clearly, but it only becomes evident when I enter my own bedroom and spread her across my bed before I collapse beside her.

She works to free some of the bed covers, pulling them over us. I'm already falling asleep again when I reach out and grab her waist, tugging her against me like a caveman.

Ivy lets out a little sigh, burrowing deeper into my body as I bury my face in her hair and inhale her. She smells so good, and I don’t want to let her go. I'm not thinking about the consequences of what I'm doing right now. Not until I start to drift off, and she touches my arm, and I jerk awake, startled.

She blinks up at me, confused.

"Did I hurt you?" I ask.

She frowns. "What?"

"This isn't a good idea," I mumble almost incoherently. "You shouldn't be in here. Not safe."

"You won't hurt me," she whispers, curling into me and kissing my jaw. "I know you won't."

There's an argument somewhere in my mind. Logic trying to alert me to its presence. But logic isn't winning when I close my eyes and breathe her in. One breath becomes two, and two becomes three, and soon I am drifting off into peaceful oblivion.

23

Santiago

Fire.

Fire in my lungs. Fire on my skin. Thick black smoke curls around me as I crawl, dragging my useless body. Searching. Screams pierce my ears, but I can't find them. They are all around me, reverberating like a nightmare.

I call out for my brother. My father. The names of the other men who were just standing beside me only moments ago. It doesn't feel real. I can't believe it's real. But the melting, searing pain is too visceral to be false.

"Santiago."

The name echoes through my consciousness, and I roar in frustration, choking on thick plumes of smoke.