I crept toward the bushes, careful to keep my steps light and my breath steady. The voices were getting louder. Twisted, guttural sounds that curled down my spine like ice. That sound—low and hollow—was unmistakable. The growl of the infected. Death’s messenger.

  I froze. Everything narrowed.

  Only one thing mattered now—how many out there?

  My pulse thundered in my ears as I scanned the shadows.

  There... Four infected, lurching toward the cabin. Their limbs jerked with that signature twitch—broken marionettes, puppets of decay.

  Relief flickered through me. Just four. No runners. We could handle that. Gemini and I had done it before.

  But then—Four more shapes staggered from the bushes.

  Damn it.

  Their groans blended with the rustle of leaves, an eerie chorus that clawed at my nerves.

  Panic clawed up my throat—but I pushed it down.

  “Think, Elli. Move...”

  I ducked behind a tree, heart pounding, eyes scanning for a way out.

  Eight infected. Too many to face head-on.

  And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, two more stumbled out from behind the trees.

  Ten.

  A few of them moved differently. Moved wrong. Jerky, fast, twitching like they were coiled springs ready to snap.

  Runners.

  Shit.

  My grip tightened around the knife. There was no way we could take them all. Specially not with the runners in the mix.

  We had to lay low. Wait it out. Let them pass. Anything else was suicide.

  No one survives a group that size. Not even Gemini.

  Gemini—

  He didn’t know.

  He’s out there. Probably humming some dumb tune while washing himself in the river—loud, distracted, oblivious.

  If they heard him… they’d rip him apart.

  I have to warn him.

  Keeping low, I crept through the tangled brush, eyes flicking between the infected and the river.

  “Where the hell are you?”

  My breath slowed, running through the possibilities. Maybe he was smart enough to stay hidden… maybe even ducked under the water until they passed. That would be good. Maybe he wasn’t as blue-brained as he looked.

  Maybe—

  A sudden flurry of wings exploded above me. A flock of birds launched from the branches with sharp, panicked screeches.

  Shit.

  Just my damn luck.

  Several infected snapped their heads toward the noise. shuffling steps grew louder, stumbling toward my hiding spot.

  My pulse spiked. I pressed myself tighter against the tree, ribs aching from how hard my heart was pounding.

  I need to move. Quietly. Now.

  Then I saw movement—In the water.

  Before I could even pray it was just a fish, Gemini surfaced, stretching like he’d just woken from a nap. Smiling.

  Completely. Utterly. Clueless.

  I screamed inside: “Are you fucking kidding me?!”

  Of course. Of course the most reckless idiot I’d ever met would be enjoying a casual swim while monsters closed in around us.

  I leaned forward, trying to whisper-yell.

  "Gemini, look out! Behind you!"

  He didn’t even flinch.

  I clenched my teeth. Fuck it.

  I sucked in a sharp breath and shouted,

  "Gemini! Watch out! Infecteds are all around us! Run while you can!"

  He turned at last.

  But instead of panicking like a normal person, that reckless idiot just grinned—wide, cocky, utterly unfazed.

  Then, like a lunatic, he waved at me.

  Waved.

  All ten infected snapped their heads in my direction.

  I froze behind the bushes, heart in my throat.

  They probably hadn’t seen me—yet—but they were definitely walking toward the sound.

  My jaw tightened as I stared at him in disbelief.

  How the hell has this moron survived this long?

  Then, To my absolute horror—he shouted back across the water:

  "Don’t you want to join me? It’s my turn to see you naked, princess! Hahaha!"

  My brain short-circuited.

  Did he—?

  An involuntary huff of laughter escaped me before I snapped my mouth shut.

  No. Focus.

  Maybe it was the stress.

  Or maybe his stupidity was infectious. Either way, I wanted to strangle him.

  Some of the infected had already turned toward his voice.

  At least now they weren’t coming my way.

  "Are you serious right now?! Have you even noticed the infected?!"

  "I don’t mean in front of these ugly zombies," he called back, still grinning.

  "I don’t want their eyes on your sexy body."

  I dragged a hand down my face.

  "You are the most ridiculous, infuriating idiot—"

  But even as I said it, I noticed something.

  He was moving toward land.

  His composure was still too relaxed, but at least I could tell he knew the danger.

  He was just being typical Gemini.

  "If I get rid of these rotten corpses," he teased, wading toward the shore, "do you promise to join me in the water?"

  "Do you really think you can handle them all by yourself, huh?" I shot back.

  But as much as I hated to admit it...

  A small, reckless part of me wanted to see if he could.

  With him yelling louder than necessary, most of the infected were focused on him now.

  Only two still crept in my direction.

  As Gemini stepped from the water, something glinted in his left hand, catching a shard of sunlight.

  My breath hitched.

  A sword—magnificent and otherworldly. The blade shimmered with curves like ocean waves, its surface shifting between silver, blue, and gold depending on the light—like liquid metal dancing in the light.

  But it wasn’t just the sword that caught my attention.

  Scars.

  Deep, intricate marks ran along his arm like inked sigils—almost tattoo-like, but unmistakably real.

  I blinked.

  Was this the same weapon he’d used the other night?

  Had he pulled it from the river just now?

  "Whoa. Where did you get that sword?" I asked, eyes locked on the blade. "It’s beautiful. Is that the same one from before?"

  He chuckled, spinning it lazily in one hand.

  "Guess that’s another story I’ll have to tell you later."

  I rolled my eyes. Of course. Mister Secrets.

  Still crouched in the brush, I rose and stepped toward him, ready for whatever came next—attack or escape, whichever plan his cocky attitude had cooked up.

  His grin widened.

  "I’m leaving some for you, princess. Can’t have you getting soft on me. Take out a few before I steal the show."

  I stared at him, disbelief crawling up my spine.

  Facing a herd like this was suicide.

  But if he thought he could take them on…

  Then I sure as hell wasn’t going to be the one backing down.

  A smirk tugged at my lips.

  Maybe it was the thrill of having one final fight.

  Maybe I was just tired of surviving, day by day.

  Maybe, for once, I wanted to fight too—not run.

  Or maybe… his absurd confidence was starting to rub off on me.

  Whatever it was, it steadied something inside me—Something I hadn’t felt in years.

  I raised my knife.

  And stepped forward. Toward him. Toward the fight.

  "Alright, cowboy," I said. "I’ll take a few down. Don’t hog all the action for yourself."

  The moment the words left my mouth, the world blurred.

  For a heartbeat, everything went still.

  Then— three bodies collapsed in unison.

  I barely saw what happened.

  One second, the infected were stumbling toward him…

  The next, their torsos split open as if sliced by a phantom blade.

  And there he was, standing behind them, facing away.

  Thick, inky blood seeped into the grass, pooling beneath their bodies.

  My jaw dropped.

  That… wasn’t normal.

  No one fought like that.

  No one human, at least.

  He’d been standing by the river a second ago—And in a flash, he was behind them, standing over their corpses, his sword gleaming faintly in the light.

  How the hell did he move like that?

  His posture relaxed like he’d just stretched after a nap. But something in the air around him had shifted.

  Charged.

  Like the world itself had to adjust to his presence.

  My fingers tightened around my knife.

  I’d seen skilled fighters before—survivors who lasted longer than anyone should’ve.

  But this?

  This was different. it wasn’t normal.

  He turned to me with a devilish grin, completely unfazed by the carnage.

  "This dark knight is at your service, princess."

  I scoffed, trying to shake the shock off my face before he could see it.

  For a second, I thought he was actually taking things seriously.

  Clearly, I was wrong.

  "Focus on the enemy, lazy knight?" I said, arching a brow.

  He strutted toward me, still unapologetically exposed.

  My eyes might’ve flicked downward—Then immediately to the infected closing in behind him.

  He noticed.

  "Eyes up, princess," he teased, wicked grin flashing. "The infected are the real threat... not my property."

  I gritted my teeth.

  "Is that your strategy to walk naked? You’re lucky I’m not stabbing you instead of them" I shot back. "Maybe wear pants next time."

  But even as I snapped at him, I stepped forward.

  My pulse sharpened.

  I wanted to fight.

  To show him I wasn’t just some fragile girl tagging along. watching from the sidelines. I was a survivor.

  I twirled the knife in my hand, eyes narrowing on the remaining infected.

  But before I could make my move, a blur of motion caught my eye.

  One of the runners.

  It lunged toward him—fast. Faster than I could react.

  "Watch out!" I shouted.

  Gemini didn’t budge.

  Didn’t even turn his head.

  Without breaking his stride, he kicked the infected straight in the face. The force sent it flying several meters before it crashed into the dirt.

  I blinked. What. The. Hell.

  Still completely calm, he strolled to a nearby rock, sat down with his legs spread wide, and leaned back—watching me like this was a damn game.

  I looked away, pretending I didn’t notice his deliberately provocative pose.

  "Not bad," I muttered. "But, you know... they don’t die with kicks and punches. Just saying."

  Gemini only chuckled.

  Despite myself, I felt my stress shifting into something else.

  Excitement.

  Maybe it was because I realized he is strong enough to have my back. Maybe it was because I had never faced a herd and actually felt in control. But for the first time, it didn’t feel like just survival.

  It felt like a hunt.

  I quickly counted. Six still standing. One crawling, trying to get back on its feet.

  I gripped my knife and moved.

  Darting behind one of the slower ones, I aimed high—just above its ear—then drove my blade deep and twisted. The infected shuddered, then collapsed.

  The weight of its rotting body nearly pulling me down with it.

  Clean. Precise. Just as I intended.

  I yanked my knife free, wiping the dark sludge on its tattered clothing. Six left.

  I glanced toward Gemini. He was still perched on his rock, watching with that infuriatingly smug grin.

  I shook my head. He made it look like a game. But at least I wasn’t some damsel waiting to be rescued.

  "One down. You better keep attacking, princess. Hahahaha."

  I shot Gemini a glare, shaking my head in frustration. "You're distracting me with your naked posing," I snapped, standing guarded but sneaking a glance his way. “Tired already?"

  torn between wanting to smack him upside the head and laughing at how ridiculous he was.

  But I didn’t have time to dwell on it—

  Because then I heard him, voice sharper this time:

  "Two coming up on your blind spot—left side."

  My instincts sharpened at his warning.

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  I turned, focusing on the infected closing in. One was a slow shambler.

  The other, a runner with a damaged leg, its movements unpredictable and twitchy.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shift.

  It was almost too fast to catch. A subtle ripple in the air, a blur of movement.

  Before I could react, the runner behind me collapsed, its skull cleaved open.

  In an instant, he’d moved.

  From the rock he’d been lounging on—To standing back-to-back with me, sword dripping, planted firmly in the corpse's head.

  I swallowed the unease creeping into my chest and whispered under my breath:

  "Thanks, the naked knight."

  "At your service, princess.” He responded, “Just focus on the ones in front of you and don’t worry about the rest."

  I rolled my shoulders and tightened my grip.

  The second I spotted an opening, I struck.

  My knife sank clean into the infected’s forehead precise force, dropping it instantly.

  Second down.

  Before the body even hit the ground, I was already moving—pivoting toward the next threat.

  I barely caught sight of him—Gemini—standing beside me like some infuriating guardian.

  For a split second, time seemed to slow.

  It felt almost like waltzing through a battlefield. If the dance floor was smeared with blood, and the infected were the twisted audience.

  It would’ve been almost romantic — if not for the rotting corpses... and his damn smug grin.

  The one that made me want to punch him square in the face.

  I snapped my attention back to the real threat.

  The runner lunged—jerky, twitching, its mangled leg making its speed and movement unpredictable.

  I didn’t hesitate.

  A breath.

  A flick of my wrist.

  The knife spun through the air, a silver blur—and buried itself deep into the runner’s skull.

  The body crumpled mid-charge.

  Too easy.

  Adrenaline roared in my veins.

  I darted forward, yanked the blade free from the corpse.

  That was the only flaw in my style—Throwing knives meant always fetching them back.

  Not ideal when you’re alone.

  But with someone like him watching my back… it wasn’t so bad.

  The thrill of the fight surged inside me, mixing with something else.

  Something I didn’t want to name.

  I was enjoying this.

  The challenge.

  The rhythm.

  The fact that—for once—I wasn’t alone.

  "Nice job, Ellie. That’s some skill you’ve got there. Only three left."

  I smirked, flicking a bit of blood from my blade. "You should see me on a bad day."

  Gemini faced away and strolled toward the river.

  One of the remaining infected lurched toward him, arms reaching—

  It never stood a chance.

  With a single blurred slash, its body split clean in two.

  I barely saw his sword move.

  As he took another step, another infected fell, his blade piercing straight through its eye.

  Even after everything I’d already seen from him, I still felt awe creep in.

  He wasn’t just fast. He was something else entirely.

  I turned back to the last infected, already preparing to end this fight—

  Until Gemini’s lazy voice carried over the sound of shifting water.

  "Hurry up, kill the last one, then get naked and join me in the river."

  I clenched my jaw, trying not to let him get under my skin. "Go away, lazy, naked, cocky man. I can handle the last one myself. Then we’ll see about the river."

  I moved in, locking my sights on the final infected. The thrill of the fight still hummed through my veins, and I was ready to finish this.

  Then—

  Pain. Sharp and sudden.

  Something cold and clawed latched onto my ankle.

  I gasped as the ground rushed up to meet me. My body hit the dirt with a brutal thud, pain exploding through my ribs.

  Shit.

  One of the infected—the one Gemini had cut in half—was still alive. While its lower body lay lifeless, its upper half had dragged itself toward me—and latched onto my foot mid-attack.

  Instinct kicked in.

  I rolled, twisting away from its grasp, but the moment I pushed up to my knees, I felt it—

  A shadow looming over me.

  The last infected was right behind me.

  Its rotting weight slammed down.

  The stench of decay filled my lungs.

  I thrashed, desperate to keep its snapping jaws from reaching my throat, but my knife slipped from my grip in the struggle. My pulse pounded in my ears.

  I clenched my teeth, throwing every ounce of strength into holding it back, but my arms were shaking. My vision blurred at the edges, and for the first time in a long while—

  I felt fear.

  I squeezed my eyes shut.

  “Is this really how it ends for me?”

  Then—nothing.

  The struggle stopped. No snarling, no snapping jaws.

  I opened my eyes, breath shuddering—

  There was no head.

  The body still pressed against me, but its skull was gone.

  My pulse raced as I shoved it off, my hands trembling as I frantically scanned my surroundings. What just—?

  Then I saw him.

  Gemini stood over me.

  Still completely naked.

  Sword in hand.

  And beside me, the severed head of the infected.

  "You idiot!” I shouted angrily “Didn’t you know you have to kill the head to actually kill them? You almost got me killed!"

  Gemini, as always, didn’t seem the least bit concerned. With that usual carefree attitude, he just shrugged.

  "My bad, hun. I was too busy admiring your moves to notice that half-zombie was still alive."

  I wanted to stay mad. I wanted to shove him away, yell at him for being reckless—but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, something else hit me.

  The cold weight of reality.

  My foot and neck had been scratched. And I knew what that meant.

  The infection had already set in.

  My breath hitched as I stared at my ankle, the wound throbbing in time with my heartbeat. The blood was already clotting—But it didn’t matter.

  The virus was already inside me. I had seen it happen to others—hours of fever, confusion, then nothing but hunger and death.

  My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to breathe.

  No one cheats death.

  I clenched my fists, willing them not to tremble. I wasn’t going to waste my last moments crying. If this was the end, I wanted to go out feeling something good for once.

  I looked up at Gemini, his expression still unreadable.

  "It’s all good, moron.” I muttered, forcing a smile onto my lips. “I haven’t seen anyone, not even the strongest fighters, take down more than four infected alone. You did your best—better than anyone alive.” I shrugged, the words catching slightly in my throat. “But like I said, no one can promise protection in this world."

  I sighed, casting one last glance at my wounds before meeting his gaze again.

  He wasn’t sad. He wasn’t afraid.

  Maybe he hadn’t realized it yet. Or maybe… he just didn’t care.

  "Come on, take me to the river with you. I want to enjoy whatever time I have left with you."

  He raised an eyebrow, smirking.

  "Don’t be such a drama queen. It’s just a scratch."

  Then, with that same infuriating grin, he added—

  " So, princess... you wanna strip yourself, or should your awesome knight handle it for you?”

  My frustration boiled over.

  Was this really all he could think about? I was dying. And here he was, flirting like it was just another day.

  For a second, I told myself—Maybe he didn’t know.

  Maybe he didn’t realize that a wound from the infected was fatal.

  But no.

  No one survived this long without knowing that basic rules. Then I thought, maybe he was just heartless. Maybe he didn’t care.

  But deep down, I knew the truth.

  This was his way of hiding it.

  The guilt.

  The fear.

  And maybe… it wasn’t just about me.

  Maybe he’d lost others before. Maybe this wasn’t the first time he thought he’d failed.

  Despite all his arrogance, all his talk, He had failed to protect me. And he knew it.

  But what was the point of blame now? If not for him, I wouldn’t have survived facing a herd like that.

  I tried to believe that.

  Tried to swallow it.

  But the truth gnawed at me.

  I couldn’t lie to myself.

  The truth was—I would’ve never taken a risk like this.

  Not before.

  I always avoided herds. Always ran long before things got this bad. But this time, I stayed.

  For him.

  I took a deep breath, forcing the anger down. If these were my last few hours... I wasn’t going to spend them drowning in resentment.

  I pushed myself to stand, trying to shake off the negativity. But the pain in my ankle threw me off balance.

  The world swayed.

  My body tilted.

  I found myself in his arms.

  Pressed against his bare, unapologetically naked body.

  "Guess it’s not so painless after all," he murmured, arms tightening around me.

  " But hey, don’t worry," he added with a smirk. "The pain will go away... once you get in the river."

  I tried to act indifferent. Tried not to let his heartless attitude bother me.

  Tried convincing myself I should enjoy my last moments.

  He’d been a good friend.

  He cared for me.

  I guess...

  And if I had to choose someone to be with at the end...I was glad it was him.

  "Fine," I muttered. "Let’s go to the river."

  I glanced at him, half-expecting another joke. Another ridiculous comment.

  But he just watched me—silent. Patient..

  I blew out a slow breath, steadying my nerves, and grabbed the hem of my shirt, fingers fumbling at the buttons.

  "Do you know what I miss most in this world?"

  His voice slipped into the silence, gentle enough to make me pause.

  Again, I braced myself for something ridiculous. Something dirty.

  Instead—

  "Music," he said.

  I glanced at him, surprised by the simple, mature answer.

  "Guess the old devices don't work anymore," he continued, staring out at the water.

  "No way to listen to the songs we once loved."

  For the first time since the fight, his voice carried no teasing edge. Only quiet sadness.

  I nodded, a flicker of nostalgia rising in my chest.

  "Yeah... I miss music too," I sighed, slipping the shirt from my shoulders. "For over two decades, my music has been the sound of nature. The wind through broken trees, the river scraping over stone."

  I turned my head toward the river, letting the memories wash over me. "It doesn’t lack beauty," I said quietly. "But it’s different.

  “Real music... I still remember how it could lift your mood. Soothe your soul."

  He didn’t say anything right away.

  He just watched me.

  As I pulled my top over my head, a cool breeze swept over my skin.

  I became acutely aware of his gaze. A mix of admiration... and something else. Something unreadable.

  Heat crept up my skin, but this time, I didn’t look away.

  For once, I didn’t feel like running.

  "You know, Gemini," I said, a smile tugging at my lips, and cheek turning red "if you keep looking at me like that, I might start thinking you enjoy seeing me without clothes."

  "Oh, don’t mind me, princess," he murmured, his voice still mature. "I think I could look at you like this for eternity."

  I smiled—something deeper surfacing between us.

  Despite everything... despite the ticking clock inside me...

  I couldn’t deny it. I liked the way he looked at me. I liked being seen by him.

  I continued undressing, slow and deliberate, letting him take in the sight—

  but not making it too easy for him.

  At the very least, the memory of me would linger in someone’s mind for a while.

  Turning away, I took a brief moment of privacy to slip off my underwear, heat rising to my face.

  My back was to him but I could feel his eyes—burning into my skin, branding the moment.

  All my senses sharpened.

  I could smell the faint sweetness of flowers from miles away.

  The rush of the river blurred into white noise in my ears.

  My hands instinctively tried to cover myself—but before I could move, strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against him.

  I gasped.

  His warmth.

  His bare body.

  Pressed into mine.

  "Looks like you’re ready for a swim," he whispered, his breath hot against my neck.

  A shiver ran down my spine as his lips brushed along my skin, sending sparks of heat through my body.

  My breath hitched—and despite myself, I leaned into him, melting against his embrace.

  "I think I am..." I managed, voice shaky. "We can go to the river... if you let go of me."

  He chuckled low in his throat, his hands sliding over my body—confident, possessive, electric.

  His lips continued their slow path along my neck, setting every nerve alight.

  And for a moment...

  I forgot the cold that had settled into my bones.

  Forgot the pain, the fear, the limited time I have.

  All I felt was him. And the fire he was waking inside me.

  Without effort, he lifted me into his arms, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing closer.

  His lips found mine, and the shock of his kiss sent a deep tremor down my spine. Desire curled through me, tightening with every step he took toward the river.

  "The water might feel cold at first," he said, voice low and oddly gentle—for a whole two seconds. Then, like flipping a switch, he smirked. "I’m looking forward to hearing you scream and suffer, my princess." He laughed, full of mischief.

  I closed my eyes for half a second, exhaling through my nose.

  Of course. It’s unlike him to act normal for longer than a heartbeat. At least he is not possessed or something.

  The brief romance was dead. Replaced, as always, by the loud, impossible idiot I somehow didn’t hate.

  "Thanks for carrying me, I doubt I could walk on my own right now.” I muttered, resting my head against his chest. “And don’t worry about the water temperature. I’ll keep warm with the heat of your body."

  A quiet chuckle rumbled through him, but for once, he said nothing in response.

  I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the moment.

  "That’s all I need right now." The words left my lips in a whisper.

  After a moment of silence, I spoke again.

  "I saw you in the river before I fell. How did you reach me from so far away?"

  "Distance doesn’t matter," he said firmly. "I would never let anything bad happen to you, Elli."

  I frowned slightly.

  There was no way he didn’t know how fatal a wound could be. Right?

  "Thanks for being fast, you moron," I muttered, giving him a look. "But didn’t you know even a scratch from an infected is fatal? They don’t need to bite. Just one scratch is enough to send you to the afterlife.”

  I exhaled. With a wound, it just takes a few hours longer for the virus to take hold."

  He met my gaze without blinking.

  No sympathy. No sadness.

  Just that unreadable calm.

  "Oh really? Cool. Guess I didn’t know that." he said lightly. Then smirked—sharp and impossible. "So you’ll turn into a zombie in a few hours, huh?

  Looks like I better figure out what to do with a zombie girlfriend."

  I expected some level of concern. Anything. But to my surprise, his voice carried no stress, no worry—nothing.

  My chest tightened, but I had no energy left to pity myself.

  Instead, I pressed my head harder against his chest, my voice barely above a murmur.

  "Have you been living under a rock all these years? How could you not know that?" I exhaled. "Doesn’t matter anymore… I have only a few hours left. Let me be happy in my final moments. Hold me in your arms till the end. Will you?"

  A single tear slipped from my eye, disappearing into the warmth of his skin.

  I haven’t lived an easy life. I had suffered—a lot. There were days the pain was unbearable, days where I wished for it all to end.

  And there were days I tried.... and failed.

  How ironic. Now, at the very end of the road, I suddenly wanted more time.

  After years of wishing for an end, now that it’s staring me in the face, I want to cling to life—just a little longer.

  Maybe it’s because, for the first time in years, I’ve started to remember what it’s like to feel something other than emptiness.

  To feel… happy.

  To live.

  Not just surviving.

  I sighed, my chest tightening. Maybe it isn’t so bad if I pass. At least, in these final moments, I could go feeling something close to happiness.

  "Don’t worry, love.” His voice shattered my thoughts “I’ll make sure you enjoy your time with me. And I swear you’ll be the sexiest zombie around."

  I clenched my jaw. Was he serious?

  He absolutely didn’t seem to care that I was about to die.

  I didn’t know if I should be offended, angry, or just let it go.

  That’s when I felt it.

  My foot.

  Freezing.

  I gasped as realization struck—he was waist-deep in the river.

  And my foot was already submerged.

  The shock of the icy water shot through me like a jolt of electricity.

  "Gemini—!"

  He kept walking deeper, the river rising up my legs, creeping toward my thighs.

  I shouted, struggling in his grip, trying to pull myself higher—desperate to escape the freezing cold.

  In that moment, all my worries—my wound, the pain, the infection—vanished.

  The only thing that mattered was escaping the icy chill.

  As I screamed, his voice cut through the air, firm yet teasing—

  "You know what, love? I heard the water in this river is magical—it heals all types of wounds."

  Before I could respond, he dropped me. Straight into the freezing river.

  The shock hit me like a tidal wave, knocking the breath from my lungs. Ice-cold water engulfed me, sending shivers racing down my spine. I barely had time to react before I hit the riverbed, my body trembling from the sudden drop in temperature.

  I scrambled to my feet, sputtering and blinking the water from my eyes.

  And there he was.

  Standing on the riverbank, laughing his ass off.

  A new kind of heat flooded through me—one fuelled by pure, unfiltered rage.

  "You moron! You asshole! You jerk! That was not funny!"

  I screamed at him, my fists flying as I punched his chest repeatedly, each hit landing with the force of my fury.

  He just kept laughing, not even trying to stop me.

  Drenched, hair clinging to my face, chest heaving, and body trembling from the cold, I did the only thing that made sense—I pressed myself against him, seeking out the warmth he so effortlessly radiated.

  "It’s a little funny. " he grinned, leaning closer to whisper in my ear. "You’re even hotter when you’re dripping wet and pissed off."

  I froze. He’s the worst.

  I clenched my jaw, trying not to blush.

  Then, slowly—very slowly—I pulled back just enough to glare at him.

  "You have a strange sense of fun, you know that?" I muttered under my breath, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered. "Here I was, thinking we were having an intimate moment, and you go and pull something like that."

  His laughter softened, but his grip on me didn’t loosen. Instead, he held me tighter, sinking us both deeper into the water until it reached our necks.

  Then, without hesitation, he claimed my lips in a deep, searing kiss.

  During the kiss a slow, seeping heat spread through me, chasing away the cold—or maybe my body was just adjusting to the water’s temperature. Either way, I melted into him, letting him steal the moment, steal me.

  But then—something else.

  A tingling sensation. Not painful, but strange—like a thousand tiny sparks dancing under my skin. Right where my wound had been.

  I broke away from the kiss, gasping as my gaze snapped to my ankle. My wound.

  Gemini’s hand rested there, fingers pressing lightly against my skin.

  And from the water—a faint green light shimmered.

  "What’s that?" My voice came out unsteady, my mind barely processing what I was seeing. "Is it… your healing power?"

  I didn’t need him to confirm it.

  Because when I looked down—the wound was gone.

  He grinned, eyes glinting with that same cocky amusement, as if I had just asked him the dumbest question in the world.

  "Don’t worry, Ellie. You’re not going to turn into a sexy zombie." He winked. "I like the hot human version of you better."

  I reached for my ankle, fingers trembling as I touched the skin where the deep scratch had once been. Smooth. Unbroken. No pain. No trace of injury.

  I had seen his healing ability before... but it still felt unreal.

  I was grateful—truly—but...there was no point.

  Healing the wound didn’t matter. Once the virus was in you, it didn’t just… disappear. There was no cure.

  I stared at him, my stomach twisting.

  "I honestly don’t understand when you’re serious and when you’re just making your stupid jokes."

  He didn’t answer.

  Just smiled—and started kissing my neck.

  I shivered—not from the cold, but from his touch.

  "Damn it…" I tried to grumble, but my words faltered the moment his lips moved lower to my breast, trailing heat over my skin.

  His hands glided over my body, confident and slow, sending warmth through me despite the icy water.

  Then I felt it again.

  That same tingling sensation.

  His hand rested against my chest, exactly where my other wound had been. And just like before, the pain vanished.

  Healing. It was real after all.

  This wasn’t some cheap joke. This wasn’t him just messing around.

  He was doing something impossible. Something logic couldn’t explain.

  A voice — deep, from the graveyard of my memory — whispered through my mind.

  “I know good days will come.”

  “You’ll smile again…”

  “You’ll be happy again.”

  I had spent years running.

  Running from death.

  Running from pain.

  Running from anything that felt too real, too close.

  But right now, in the arms of this mysterious man—I wasn’t running anymore.

  I didn’t want to.

  "I’m tired of running, Gemini."

  He didn’t respond immediately. Just held me tighter, his lips brushing against my temple.

  No words needed. Just understanding.

  And with that—I let go.

  "We are together, my love." he murmured, his voice steady and certain. "We don’t run anymore. We stay. We fight. Together nothing can break us."

  And as he spoke, I felt myself relax—truly relax—for the first time in years.

  His kisses deepened, his touch igniting a heat inside me that made the water feel warmer than before. I looked into his eyes, feeling my mind and body surrender completely.

  Vulnerability warred with desire—but this time

  I didn’t care which one win.

  My body pressed against his, my arms wrapped around his neck. My lips trailed his skin, desperate to explore.

  Soft moans escaped me as his kisses ignited a fire within.

  My hand drifted beneath the water, seeking him. And when I felt his hardness under my touch, a surge of arousal coursed through me.

  His hold on me tightened.

  Heat. Cold. The river and his body—opposites colliding, fusing into something untamed, something overwhelming.

  I gasped as his warmth filled me, our movements growing faster, more desperate.

  No words were needed.

  Only the sound of our moans, our ragged breaths—vanishing into the rush of the river.

  A moment of wildness, tenderness, something deeper than either of us could name.

  My body trembled as waves of pleasure crashed over me, pulling me under.

  I clung to him. He held me steady.

  His strength was unshakable, his presence unrelenting.

  He leaned back against a nearby rock, his arms wrapping around me from behind. His fingers brushed through my hair, tucking it gently behind my ear.

  I breathed out, sinking into him, my head resting just beneath his chin.

  For a moment—the world had never felt so quiet.

  Never so beautiful. Never so peaceful.

  Then—the roar of an engine shattered the silence.