A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania 4)

“Everyone out,” Ryan snarled. He began pacing as the others fled the tent.

I waited, because he needed to work this out.

“You’re stupid,” he said.

“Probably.”

“And you’re going to get us all killed.”

“That’s a definite possibility.”

He pointed a finger at my face. “If you get killed, I will kill you.”

“That doesn’t even make sense—”

“And if you kill me and can’t bring me back, I will haunt you forever.”

“Oooh, ghost sex. Get your ectoplasm all over my—”

“And if you turn Dark, I will kick your ass so hard, you won’t have a choice but to turn good again.”

“I don’t quite understand how—”

“I don’t like this idea.”

I sniffed delicately. “So I noticed.”

“I think it’s ridiculous.”

“Pretty much the story of our lives, dude. Just roll with it.”

He suddenly looked stricken. “You need to be okay,” he said roughly. “Do you understand me? I need you to be okay. I can’t do this without you, Sam. I can’t. This life… it doesn’t make sense unless I’m by your side.”

I hugged him tightly. “Never,” I whispered in his ear. “I will never let you go.”

SAM

sam

sam

Sam

SAM

My head rocked to the side, a bright flare of pain in my cheek.

I groaned as I opened my eyes. My vision was blurry and my head was pounding.

“Whuzzat?” I asked coherently.

“Gods, don’t scare me like that. You weren’t breathing, you mothercracking idiot!”

“M’lerg,” I said with extraordinary alacrity.

“Don’t you dare go and pass out again. I will hit the other side of your face, so help me gods.”

I blinked at the dark figure leaning over me, blocking out the sun. “Hi,” I said.