Loyal Heir (The Heirs 4)

I try to focus on my breathing instead of being swallowed up by the depressing feelings. But the pain keeps increasing as if pressure is slowly building in my chest. The dust hanging thick in the air isn’t helping and making everything a hundred times more difficult and grim.

“Remember,” I whisper, unable to draw strength for anything louder, “when we tied pillows around us with belts,” I take a slow breath and exhale, “and we pretended we were sumo wrestlers?”

Aria lets out a sad chuckle, and her voice sounds scratchy when she says, “You made me tumble right over.”

A smile begins to pull at my lips. “You laughed so hard you couldn’t get back up.”

I close my eyes and bring up the memory of us.

I want to make more memories with her.

“One of my favorite memories is of us building a tent in your room,” Aria murmurs. “We’d pretend we were camping and tell each other the worst horror stories.”

My eyes meet hers. “You painted it in one of the bubbles.” I painfully inhale a breath, and the dust irritates my throat. “Thank you for painting us.”

“I’m glad my dad insisted on taking the painting with him.” Aria struggles to keep her tears back. “At least our memories are safe.”

The light from the phone casts shadows against the rubble, and it has me asking, “How much battery life do we have left?”

Aria checks, then whispers, “Only forty-three percent.”

“What’s the time?”

She checks again. “One am.”

Fuck.

I close my eyes against the grim news. By some miracle, I was hoping more time had passed, so we’re closer to being rescued. It’s only been two hours, and I have no idea if a search party is even looking for us.

I feel Aria’s fingers brush over my cheek, and when I open my eyes, she says, “Try to rest while I keep calling for help.”

“Okay,” I murmur. I watch Aria as she continues to shout.

Not knowing the extent of my injuries, worry gnaws at my insides. I glance down, and seeing the dark bruising on the side of my chest, it fills me with apprehension. Not wanting to see how badly I’m hurt, I wait for Aria to pause so she can catch her breath, then ask, “Can you button my shirt up?”

She quickly scoots closer and begins to do the buttons. When she’s done, her eyes dart to my face.

Seeing the fear alive in her eyes, it begins to sink in that help might not arrive in time.

“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” I ask.

She lets out a hopeless sounding chuckle. “A lot, seeing as you keep putting up with my crazy ass.”

I shake my head. “You’re not crazy.” I take a shallow breath, and for a moment, my vision blacks out. I’m not getting enough air.

God, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before…

I push the grim thought to the back of my mind, then continue, “Your laughter… it’s the happiest sound I’ve ever heard. No matter what I’m doing or where I am, it always puts a smile on my face.”

Emotion washes over Aria’s features, her eyes not leaving my face.

“When you’re nervous, you nibble at your bottom lip. It always gives me the urge to kiss you.”

A sad smile begins to tug at the corner of her mouth.

“The way you look at me…” I close my eyes for a moment as intense emotions push up my throat, “it makes me feel like I’m the most important person on the face of the earth.”

Aria leans closer and presses a kiss to my mouth, then she whispers, “That’s because you are. You’re the foundation my life is built on.” A tear sneaks over her cheek. “You’re in every happy moment, and every dream is woven around you.”

I take a shallow breath, but this time the pain is too intense, making a dizzying feeling smother my thoughts.

Deep down, I know I should be worried that I won’t make it, but I just can’t allow those thoughts to take root.

“Forest?” Aria places her hand on my jaw.

I force my eyes open, and all I can make out is a blur.

“I love you, Aria,” I murmur drowsily. “Love… you.”

ARIA

When Forest’s eyes drift shut and a breath wheezes over his lips, desolation wreaks havoc through me.

I frame his face with both my hands and gasp for air. “Forest?” For a moment, there’s absolute silence, and it shatters my world to pieces. “No,” I cry, wrapping my arms around his neck. I hold him tightly to me as an isolated feeling cuts me off from all warmth. “No.” A wail builds up in my chest and explodes over my dry lips. It’s filled with despair and the emptiest sorrow I’ve ever felt.

I struggle to cry as my body convulses.

No.

I still feel the warmth of his body, and I cling to it as my mind begins to shut down, swamped with grief. As I press my mouth to Forest’s neck, I suddenly feel his breath fan over my ear, and I instantly pull back. “Forest!” My eyes dart over him, and seeing that he’s still breathing, a sob escapes me.