Accidentally…Over? (Accidentally Yours #5)(33)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

“Sir?” Brutus, who’d been at the café earlier and the leader of this particular Uchben crew, grabbed Máax’s shoulder. “She’s gone.”

Máax dropped his head. He knew Brutus spoke the truth, and in that moment, Máax felt something snap. Fucking snap. The molecules of his light reverberated from the force. It was as if every inch of his being rejected the Universe. He felt repulsed by it, angered by it, embittered by it. This was not a world he wanted to serve or be a part of if Ashli were not a part of it, too. The pain was simply too much.

And just like that, the bonds of the Universe, everything shackling him to an eternity of servitude vanished. Only his connection to Ashli remained. Oh yes. Now he saw everything with such vivid clarity. Ashli had become just as much a part of him as his own heart. No longer was there a separation between their souls. But then…

“She can’t be dead. Not again.” Yes, Máax could go back in time again and start over, but what difference would it make? He couldn’t protect her! He’d failed.

“I-I will keep trying,” Brutus said remorsefully.

Máax slowly stood, feeling the weight of his sorrow dragging his transparent bones down to hell. He staggered toward her house, holding back a scream so full of despair that it would be felt around the world.

Why couldn’t he save her? Why couldn’t he keep her alive? It didn’t matter what he did, did it? The Universe—Death—was determined to have its way. But why? What had he done to deserve this torment? What had she done?

He realized that he would do anything to keep from losing her, to keep her from dying, to keep her safe.

Anything?

Yes, f**king anything.

The unexpected sound of hacking stopped him in his tracks.

He didn’t dare breathe or make a single sound, fearing he’d miss the repetition of what he thought he’d heard. He clenched his lids tightly and tilted his head toward the sky. Please, please, please, let that be what I think it is.

He turned, feeling the world move in slow motion, counting to three before he opened his eyes.

Máax dropped to his knees at the sight of Ashli coughing violently.

The air whooshed from his lungs, and he dropped his head into his hands. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

After stripping Ashli of her wet bathing suit and fighting every urge in his male body to touch her, Máax tucked Ashli into her bed and quietly left the room. He’d never felt so full of hope, so in control of his destiny, and so uneasy. Ashli’s death had somehow severed his bonds with the Universe, thereby allowing his soul to completely bond with hers. Now he didn’t know where he began and where she ended. They were one.

But what did it all mean? And what next? Practically speaking, the situation was not resolved. Ashli was still at risk, which meant the clock continued to tick.

But she is alive.

He smiled to himself and walked to the kitchen. When she awoke, he’d have everything ready for her. Soup, fresh-squeezed juice, flowers, a platinum Visa. He’d indulge her every whim with the exception of solid food, especially bananas. Or a game of tag with a bus. Or a swim in the ocean. Or a beehive. Other than those, however, he’d spoil her rotten, and he’d figure this out. All of it. What mattered was that she lived.

Máax entered the kitchen to find Brutus sitting at Ashli’s small table, sipping a cup of tea. Máax was about to speak and thank Brutus for what he’d done, but didn’t get the chance.

Brutus spoke, his eyes fixed on his mug. “This is bigger than you and I. You know that, don’t you?”

“If you’re speaking of saving Ashli, of course I know that; she’s everything.”

“Good. I’m glad you see that. Because you can’t have her,” Brutus said coldly, not bothering to look up from his cup.

Máax halted in his tracks. “What?”

Brutus’s eyes zeroed right in on Máax. “You heard me. You can’t have her. She is far too good for you and far too important to the rest of us.”

“Not sure I follow.”

Brutus stood from the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Like most Uchben soldiers, Brutus wore the standard black tee, cargo pants, and boots. His dark hair was short in a military crew cut but Máax knew Brutus’s clean-cut exterior was nothing but an illusion. On the inside, the man was like all Uchben—human volcanoes, waiting to erupt and let loose an explosion of deadly force. A razor-thin membrane of control was all that separated men like Brutus from killing, destroying, serving justice. Controlled chaos.

That didn’t mean that Máax was afraid or gave a shit what the man said. Ashli was his and no one would ever challenge that.

But is she really yours? Are you now saying you will keep her?

I don’t f**king know. The only thing he knew in this moment was that he was grateful as hell she was still alive and that her death had drastically changed something deep within him. He simply needed a little time to figure things out.

“What’s gotten into you?”

Brutus stepped around the table, growling, his eyes drilling into Máax’s… well, his shoulder.

Brutus narrowed his eyes. “I saved her life, and I’m prepared to continue doing so because that’s what the world needs.”

Máax chuckled. Had Brutus swallowed too much ocean water saving Ashli? “Are you insinuating that I do not want to save her?”

“You can’t stay here in this time. We all know the rules of time travel, and one of you exists already.”

This was true. The Máax belonging to this particular moment in time was currently trapped inside a cenote, but he would not be freed for another nineteen years or so. Plenty of time to figure something out. However, there were also future versions of himself scheduled to show up in just a few days. He’d simply need to be careful. Post a few signs for himself outside of Ashli’s home and café.

“This is not your concern,” Máax said.

Brutus glared. “You plan to take her forward with you?”

“I cannot do that. Cimil believes that Ashli must stay here in order for her destiny to be fulfilled and halt the apocalypse.” Wait a second. Máax did not answer to this soldier, nor was he required to tell him the truth.

“So you will leave,” Brutus argued. “And when you do, how do you plan to keep her safe?”

“Why do you assume I am leaving?”

Brutus stepped forward, visibly about to explode. Crazy man. What did he think he could do to Máax? Kill him? “I want to protect her.”