Chapter 45: This Is Not A Trick

“... what?”

Storm repeated himself. “I’m letting you go.”

“I heard you the first time, Storm. But, why? How? What about the wolf king, what about you?”

It looked like Storm was chewing on his words. Measuring them. As though deciding whether or not they were the right ones to use or not.

“You’re worth it.” He said, finally. And softly.

He had said it ashamedly as well.

I was careful with my words. “I… don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes, Maxx.”

I eyed Storm with all the suspicion in the world. He knew what I was going to ask, and responded before I had a chance to speak.

“This isn’t a trick. This is real. And, it isn’t for you. This is for me.”

I didn’t say anything out loud, although my face certainly said, “yeah right.”

Storm sighed and went on.

“They, uh. They think we’re doing it.” He paused, and looked at me. There was gravity and shame in his voice. And the image of it was simply too absurd for me even to laugh about it.