The Oath We Give (Hollow Boys, #5)

by Monty Jay

All of Thatcher’s feelings are tied up in Lyra. He doesn’t have any left for the rest of us.

I hand her mine, a simple gold band with an engraving along the inside that says #dd4a3d. My little secret, considering she doesn’t notice it as she slips it onto my finger.

“I drink bourbon.” The muscles in his jaw twitch, voice smooth like liquid night. “And I don’t eat meat.” I try to hide the shock on my face but find it difficult as I look up at him. The bourbon, I knew about. He’s got a cart in his office, stocked with ice nightly, but the meat? “Since when?” I ask. Silas looks down, the harshness in his eyes softening, and like it’s no big deal, like it’s the simplest thing in the world, he says, “Since you told me you don’t like the smell.”

“Your feet always did get cold without socks on,” I say, my throat tightening.

Absolutely destroyed me

“Can you carry me one last time?”

Rosieeee

She died knowing she was loved by many and that’s all any of us can ask for at the end of our days. “Always, Rosie Girl.”