Chapter 116. I Found Something

Tristan

"We'll figure it out," I said, but the words felt hollow in my mouth. "All of us together. We won't let anything happen to you or anyone else."

Athena stared at me with those brown eyes that had always been my anchor, and now they looked lost. "What if there isn't a solution? What if this is just who I am now?"

The question hit me square in the chest, but I forced myself to stay steady. "Then we'll learn to live with it. Whatever that means."

"Even if I can never touch you again without hurting you?"

I wanted to lie. I wanted to tell her it didn't matter, that we'd find a way around it. But sitting there, looking at her gloved hands resting carefully on her lap, I could picture our future. 

No more casual touches. No more holding hands while we walked. No more skin against skin when we kissed.

 Everything would have barriers between us.

"Even then," I said, and I meant it, even though it felt like swa