"I'm done running."
Celeste stood inside the antique church as rain hammered the roof. She had texted Damien the deal with and told him to come alone. He came — soaked, tired, but there.
"Me too," he said quietly.
They stood still, just staring. No words, only a silence that stated the whole lot.
"I am sorry," Celeste stated at last. "For pushing you away. For not trusting you. For all of it."
"Don’t," Damien said. "I get it. I probably would’ve done the same."
"Would you?"
He smiled slightly. "Maybe not. But I understand why you did."
Celeste stepped closer. "Mila’s gone. Rylan’s making his move. My mother’s closing in. We’re out of time and out of human beings."
"So what do we do now?"
"Now we stop fighting each other. We combat them. Collectively."
Damien let out a quiet snor
