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“Asher.”

“How are you feeling, Millie?” I asked.

“Good? Good,” she said, nodding. “Sit.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes. It was comfortable. Then she opened her sketchbook, carefully tore out a page, and handed it to me.

“This is for you.”

There were no gray skies. No spiders. No broken graves. Just a blue sky. A forest in deep green. And I stood in the middle of it all.

“You used colors.”

“Doctor Sharma bought me new oil pastels,” she said with a small grin. “I think… I love colors.”

Diya and I went back around four in the evening.

“It’s time to leave,” Diya said. “I… think I’ll miss this place.”

We loaded the luggage into Diya’s car while Layne got into the driver’s seat, giving us a quick wave. I had to drop my motorcycle off with Vincent. He’d offered to help ship it to New York.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that, Maddox?” Diya asked once we were finally alone in the cottage.

So many memories in this place.

This spot right here… that’s where I first threatened her

“I almost feel sad to leave this all behind,” she said as she locked the cottage door. “This is where I found you sneaking that time I went on a date with Vincent,” she said as we walked past the cottage. “And this is where Dex caught me. I thought he was you.” She laughed like it was some ridiculous joke.

It wasn’t. I was shocked, and before I could react, the bastard had slammed my head against the tree and knocked me out.

“Where the hell is he?” I grunted. I should have killed him that day.

“Probably holed up somewhere, getting ready to destroy us. If I know Dex—and I do know him—he’ll come back. For me and Layne, this time,” she said with a long sigh. “He’s very good at biding his time.”

“So, it’s not over yet?” I asked with a frown. The idea of Declan still lurking out there, holding a grudge, made my skin crawl.

“Definitely not. It’s my life. You know… you started this for Riley. I killed for myself.”

“And for girls like Riley. I see no harm in that,” I said. She didn’t know how I loved her all the more for that.

“Would you be okay with me, still… doing that?” She looked at me, biting her lips.

I understood what she was asking.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, but what about Detective Knight?”

“I’ll be more careful, I promise. I don’t know where I’ll end up or what I want to do yet… but I’m really glad you’re here, Ash. Being with you—that’s the one thing I’m sure about.” She reached for my hand.

“I love you, Diya Sharma.”

“Sorry, it took me so long to figure it out. I just needed some time. But when I was stuck in that bunker, all I could think about was you. And how much I’d regret it if I never got the chance to tell you how much I trust you... and that I love you.”

She winced, her eyes clouding over with the memory.

“That day… I knew things wouldn’t be the same without you.”

We reached my motorcycle, and I handed her the helmet.