XXXV

The screeches and screams of the creatures haunting the dark tunnel were reduced to a steady background hum as desire surged, molten hot inside Aiden. It crashed against the dam he’d built within his chest to keep this part of himself at bay. The part that needed. The part that wanted.

But now he was close to Elodie. Too close to keep the waves from roiling and striking through his inner walls.

“Do you love him?”

It was a simple question, but the way Elodie’s eyes glinted in the dull red light and the absence of a swift yes told Aiden everything he needed to know.

The dam within him cracked. The rapids tore free. Every inch of him heated with wave after wave of desire. Aiden’s mouth claimed hers and he pulled her closer. Needing more of her. Needing all of her. Elodie’s lips parted in gentle welcoming.

She was everything.

Light crept in between his softly closed eyelids, but he refused to let loose the moment and give her back to the present. He’d found his place. He was home.

The sun’s warmth poured onto Aiden’s head.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Astrid’s snarl tore through his world like a crack of lightning.

Aiden slammed back against the side of the cart as he jolted and Elodie pushed him away. His eyes strained to adjust to the brightness outside of the tunnel. The world tipped around Aiden as he tried to get his bearings and meet the heaven that was Elodie with the hell of the present, where the darkness from the tunnel no longer hid their kiss.

Astrid choked down a breath. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she howled. Her tone was thunder, shaking Aiden to his core.

Aiden struggled to stand up inside the cramped cart. “Astrid, there are things you don’t know.”

“Things I don’t know?” Her ponytail lifted and whipped the air with a sudden gust of wind. “Nothing you could say would make any of this okay. What you did—” Livid disgust sharpened her features. “You’ll pay for this.”

Elodie brushed against him as she struggled to free herself from the lap belt. “Astrid!” Finally free, Elodie leapt from the cart.

Astrid jerked backward and clicked on her Violet Shield. “Don’t you dare touch me! I don’t know what has happened to you. What he”—Astrid stabbed the air in Aiden’s direction—“has done to you, but this is—it’s unforgivable.”

Elodie buried her face in her hands. “I know.”

Aiden’s heart froze within his chest. “You can’t tell anyone, Astrid,” he said, climbing out of the ride.

Astrid blinked and shook her head as if Aiden were a child showing off a silly trick. “I have to. For your protection, for Elodie’s, for Westfall. The Cerberus virus happened once before. It could happen again.”

“A kiss won’t hurt anyone.” He could explain if she would only give him the chance. “I promise it won’t.”

Astrid took another step back. “Tell that to the billions of people the virus killed,” she said. “I’m sure they felt the same way.”

“Astrid—” Elodie began, but Astrid’s cutting glance made her choke back her words.

Tears welled in Astrid’s eyes. “How could you do this?” Sharply, she blinked them back before they had the chance to escape. “This isn’t you.”

“Please!” Elodie sobbed.

Aiden’s chest clenched with each ragged burst. He’d caused this. And there was nothing he could do to fix it.

Astrid’s hands trembled as she wiped at her cheek. “I have to go.” She turned and sprinted toward the festival entrance.

Elodie lurched forward after her best friend.

Aiden grabbed her hand. “Elodie, I . . .” He didn’t have any words. He didn’t have any way to make up for what had happened.

Elodie studied their joined hands before looking up at him. Tears shimmered against her dark eyes.

With his thumb, Aiden traced slow circles against the back of her hand. “I’m sorry,” he finally whispered. There was so much more he needed to say, but he had no idea where to start.

Elodie’s throat tightened with a sob and she pulled away from him and took off after Astrid.

“Elodie!” Aiden leaped out of the cart and started after her, but a row of janitorial bots paraded between them, cutting him off from catching up with her.

Aiden brushed his hands through his hair and let out a curse. Elodie was always running away.