Chapter 1160
He forced himself to look away from Rose, to break the spell of her eyes. He turned and walked toward Sophie, feeling the weight of Rose’s stare on his back like heat. Sophie grabbed his hand the moment he was close enough, pulling him into the shelter, into the safety of their circle.
Rose didn’t follow.
Not yet.
Inside, the others stirred. Zoey rubbed her temples, wincing as though waking from a bad dream. Susan blinked at the light, confusion clouding her expression. Grace clung to Natalie, and Scarlet sat apart, arms wrapped around her knees, rocking gently.
"They’re coming back to themselves," Stella whispered.
"But for how long?" Lucy asked, glancing toward the entrance.
Jude sank onto a low bench, head in his hands. "She’s not giving up."
Sophie knelt in front of him, tilting his chin so he had to meet her gaze. "Neither are we."
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world outside fell away. The danger. The island. The weight of what they’d almost lost. There was only the warmth of her touch, the steadiness of her breath. She kissed him softly, grounding him, reminding him of who he was, who they were, beneath the terror.
When the kiss broke, Jude exhaled shakily. "I’m sorry."
"For what?" Sophie said. "For being human? For loving her once?"