The Oath We Give (Hollow Boys, #5)

by Monty Jay

Thatcher shakes his head, kissing the top of Lyra’s head softly, muttering under his breath, “What am I going to do with you, little miss death?” They were an unlikely pair but something about them just kinda… worked? Like ice cream and french fries. One was very sweet and the other was very salty. But they balanced each other out. It was similar to how Alistair gave off a very fuck you don't speak to me vibe in his leather jacket and Briar was very I'm super nice, but my scary boyfriend will hit you. He was a shadow, and she was the light. One without the other felt wrong. Any of them without each other felt wrong. Out of place and, I guess, that went for me to now as well. I look at Briar, Sage, and Lyra, knowing in this moment that I hate Stephen Sinclair, but a part of me is grateful for where I ended up. They don't make me want to relive the basement, but they make it worth it. We weren't friends since high school or siblings forced to care for one another. Blood and time spent together had nothing to do with our bond. It was this trauma. A horrible, nasty evil that would live with us forever, but also brought us together. Along the road of pain, we stumbled across one another, clung to each other, and refused to let go. We wouldn't have met without the pain. Wouldn't have loved as deeply as we do without the fear. We hold on tight to one another because we refuse to lose it. We know it's rare and breakable and entirely ours.