began when I moved to Dormas.”
Maverick gave me a soft smile. “All my favorite stories began when you moved to Dormas, too,” he whispered. “I wish I had one of your chocolate cakes right now,” he added while licking his lips.
“Once we’re out of this hell hole, I’ll make you all the chocolate cake you can eat. I’ve been craving chocolate,” I replied wistfully. “That’s one pleasant memory. Josiah used to sneak me little chocolates when I was a girl. I developed quite the sweet tooth.”
Maverick moved my legs a little bit so that he could reach into his pocket. I heard the crinkling of a wrapper, and he pulled out a tiny peppermint. "I don't have chocolate."
He placed the peppermint in my palm, and I laughed. That was the difference between my men and Josiah. My men wanted to give me what little they had. The empire was ending, but they were worried about still finding little luxuries to sneak into my palm. Hell, Maverick was dying, and he was still finding little ways to treat me. "I want to give you a lifetime of chocolates, Ash," he said. My heart was breaking. "Can you tell Cyler to go to the door? I want to tell him something," Maverick then said. His words had started to slur, and I wondered how long he would be coherent. It seemed like the disease was taking his mind faster than the rest of his body. The boils on his skin were still at bay, but the fever was making him delirious. I quickly got up and pressed the button for the speaker, beckoning Cyler closer.
Cyler went to the glass and slid down it, resting his back against the door while looking over his shoulder. "You okay brother?" he asked softly. His voice was full of emotion, and I saw unshed tears in his black eyes.
"I don't know," Maverick replied. I adjusted the settings on the intercom to pick up his soft voice.
"This is such a shitty deal," Cyler whispered. He wasn't wrong. Nothing about this was fair. Why was the most compassionate man who dedicated his life to saving others suffering such a gruesome fate? I hated thinking that he was already dead, but the odds were stacked against us. I walked back over to Maverick, and he pulled me to his chest. It was a weak movement, but I gingerly sunk into his comforting embrace. Maverick let out a choking cough and covered his mouth. I noticed when he pulled his hand away that there was blood staining his palm. I quickly grabbed a nearby napkin for him to wipe it.
"When you see Jules, will you tell her that I'm proud of her?" At his seemingly harmless request, it felt like someone had just taken a knife and drove it through my chest. He was preparing for his death.
Kemper stopped working in the distance, and I saw him move to sit next to Cyler. Kemper propped his arm on Cyler’s shoulder. "Don't talk like that, Maverick. We're gonna get the cure done. You're gonna be okay," Cy said, his voice nearly a whisper.
Maverick chuckled. "I thought I was supposed to be the optimistic one in our group," he said. "You're the realist."
"And you're too good for this stupid shit," Cyler grumbled.
"When you see Ash, can you tell her I loved her?"
His voice seemed far away. I pressed a hand to his forehead as he closed his eyes. He was burning so hot it was uncomfortable to touch his skin. "I'm right here, Maverick," I soothed. Maverick grabbed hold of me tighter, as if making sure I really was.
"I love you so much. I don't have adequate words to express just how much you mean to me. I'm not sure if it's the disease talking, or if I really just can't put into words how much I deeply love you." It felt like he was talking in confused circles. The disease was working fast.
I cupped both his cheeks just as I heard Cyler let out a sob. It wasn't fair. This family had already lost both their parents and had given their lives to their people.
Maverick's head started to roll like it was too hard for his neck to hold it up. I quickly got off of his lap and helped him to a nearby pallet I found in the corner of the room. Carefully tucking him into the scratchy blankets, I kissed him on the cheek before sliding under the blanket