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"Of course You told oing lih her veins He believed her

"You believe ht-headed Then she frowned, her lips pursing in confusion "But how then? I don’t understand"

"How ently

Her brow furrowed and she tried to concentrate but her head hurt too badly "I don’t knoent to Jack’s Kaden called me Said he was back I went over, but I made sure Kaden ith htened around hers "I know, baby You did fine You did everything right"

"I was so angry with Jack I was yelling at his up He said he wanted to say good-bye and when I asked hi he just said ‘away’"

A scowl darkened Jace’s face

"He made me hot chocolate That’s all I reht, baby You’re going to be okay That’s all thatin her chest Tears clogged her throat and she could barely breathe

"Jack," she whispered "He did it, didn’t he?"

Tears slid down her cheeks and a sob welled in her throat

Jace looked tormented, his eyes tortured as he stared back at her "I’m afraid so, baby I’m sorry"

She closed her eyes "Why?"

Jace sucked in a deep breath and he caressed her cheek, wiping away the tears "He didn’t mean to hurt you, honey He’s an idiot, but he didn’tret "He meant to kill himself"

"What?"

Pain exploded in her chest No He wouldn’t But then ned Hioing he’d si like that?"

Jace shook his head "I don’t have an answer to that, baby Sorry I don’t knohat he was thinking I busted his balls over it I wanted to kill him myself for what he did to you You alot you back I can never forgive hi her This ti he could never ive him and she wasn’t sure she could either He’d crossed a line he could never go back from

"Where is he now?" she asked quietly

"He’s here In the waiting roo an eye on him"

"Don’t let hiain"

Jace slid onto the bed next to her, his hip resting against her side "Right now I’ better How do you feel? Is there anything I can get you?"

"Just groggy," she replied "Muggy Like "

"That’s to be expected," he said gently "Can you forgive s right between us?"

She looked up in surprise "What do you mean?"

He closed his eyes and when he reopened them there was a swarm of emotions Relief Sadness Worry Fear

"Do you have any idea how much it slays me that you’d even ask me that? Or the relief I feel at the sa Like I didn’t cut you so deep that you cried yourself to sleep while I was next to you, unable to do a da about it"

He sucked in a deep breath and she could see how truly shaken he was He looked haggard, co out Like he hadn’t slept in days

"Baby, you have no idea how bad you scared rateful than I ao and brought you back to me"

To her astonishment, a tear slid down his cheek and he hastily wiped it away as he inhaled deeply through his nose

"How long have I been out?" she whispered

He s in those dark eyes "Over twenty-four hours, baby They brought you in yesterday ?"

"That long," he whispered "The longest twenty-four hours of my life"

"I’m sorry," she said hoarsely, still stunned that she’d been unconscious for that long

"Sorry?" He broke off in a garble laugh "Baby, you have nothing to apologize for"

"I’h," she said anxiously

"It orth it because I have you back Never leave me, Bethany Stay with me Be with me Love me"

"I do love you, Jace I’ers to her ize for another day"

He turned, positioning himself on the narrow bed so he could lie next to her It was crowded and cra, but heher firmly to his body He put one arainst his shoulder Then he let out a long breath, his body relaxing For a ainst her He touched her, his hand sliding up and down her body, stopping over her heart, his fingers splayed wide as if reassuring himself of her steady heartbeat

Then he slipped his fingers higher, to her neck, feeling the thud of her pulse

"Never felt a sweeter thing, baby," he whispered "Your heart beating You breathing I’ll never take that for granted Going to wake up every day knowing it’ll be the best da athered in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks Her chest rose with a quiet sob and she turned her face into his neck, her breaths hiccupping over his skin

"I’ht to say those things You didn’t deserve it Ash didn’t deserve it I lashed out at you both when you’re the last people on earth I’d ever want to hurt"