#muldavia

Europe's Best Kept Secret

(Spoilers for Generation Chapter 50)

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Dana dug beneath her feet where she kept the snacks she’d picked up on the way. She handed an energy drink back to Gray.

Gray hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes, then carefully reached for the can. As he took it, one of his fingers brushed Dana’s. He jerked away and the can tumbled to the floor, fizzing.

“I’m sorry,” said Gray. “I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again.” He cringed down against the seat, looking as if Dana might hit him.

Dana glanced at Jason, puzzled. “It’s fine! Don’t worry about it. Just make sure you wait before you open it.” She smiled at Gray.

“Okay. I will, V—Dana.”

A shock shot through Jason’s heart.

Connie leaned forward. Nika didn't flinch. "It wasn't your fault," she felt compelled to say. "None of it was your fault. What those men did to you—is not what you are."

Nika nodded, as if trying to convince herself.

"My Connie," he whispered.

"My Jason." He pressed his lips to hers, savoring a slow soft kiss.

Chapter 41 up!

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He smiled up at her through tears of pain. “I love you.” His eyes searched hers, lingered on her face. “You’re so beautiful….”

“What else can I do?”

“Keep being a distraction… stay close…please.”

“I won’t leave.”

His hand fumbled up to her face, stroked her cheek. “So soft….” He slid closer, then gasped, hissing through his teeth.

“Hey—don’t move.”

“It’s okay… I think the pills are kicking in…. Please, just… I need you.” His hand slid down her arm.

“I’ve got you.” She traced his cheekbone with one finger, slid it down over his jaw, now sandpapery. Gently leaned in and kissed his lips, then his chin, the bridge of his nose, his forehead. “How’s that?”

“Wonderful. I…I’m feeling better already.”

“Probably the medicine.”

“No, it’s your magic….” His fingers buried in her hair, parsing out its strands, his eyes marveling at them. “The last rays of sunlight dying in them…. Trapped there, they’ll keep glowing, sustained by your life…”

“Jason… maybe those pills are a little too strong….”

~

A moment later the king looked up again, his jaw set, as if steeled against despair. “I try not to think of it directly, or I couldn’t do my job. I don’t have that luxury.” He glanced at Darya. “I have to do what I can to help her…. Which so far isn’t much.” His fist clenched, knuckles white. “If only I could lead an army in, guns blazing… But there’s no castle to storm. Just shifting shadows.” Anger flashed across his face. “I would turn myself in if there were no other way. But I can do more good like this…. In authority. It’s authority that matters, not my heritage… which won’t mean anything in a few years. I just have to find some sort of…inroad…. Something concrete. A path to their lair so I can burn it down.”

~

She shook inside. Her hand grasped his shoulder, perhaps too tightly, but she couldn’t uncurl her fingers, couldn’t pull herself a hairs-breadth away from him. “That’s not the worst, Jason. I’d know…” Her breath caught. “I’d know you’d be in heaven, away from all pain. If—if—the worst happened. If they—caught you. What they would do—” Unbidden, horrific images flashed in front of her mind and she scrambled desperately to block them out.

He pressed her close, his arms around her back. “Don’t think of that. I—I don’t want to consider that, either. But if it… did happen, I’d still be in God’s hands. It’d still be worth it—to sacrifice myself for them or for you.”