Page 72 of Raze
I realize I’m dragging this out, but I’m dreading the feeling of being cut off from my gift. I’d ask if we could use rope or something else instead, but I know the point is to render my gift useless. If he only knew how much I hated using it in the first place, maybe this wouldn’t be such an issue. Only Kellan really knows that. And Jack a bit, only because he knows how I see myself.
Finally, I bite the bullet and click my wrist on the first bracelet, then do the same for the other. The feeling is almost instant. I feel empty, hollowed out.
I may not like using my gift, but I have to admit I’d never want to be without it. It’s like cutting out one of my senses that I’ve used all my life and making me walk around without it.
My face is tight with unease when I glare over at Aiden for making me do this. “There. Now, what?”
Aiden looks surprised. “I didn’t think you’d do it on your own.”
“Yeah, well, miracles do happen, but they’re rare, so don’t get used to it. Now, say what you want to say or ask, and let’s get this over with so I can take them off. I hate feeling like this.”
His brown eyes bounce back up to mine, and I think I spot a flicker of pity in them. “They aren’t coming off.”
My heart jumps out of rhythm.
“Excuse me?” I demand, my voice pitching higher than usual.
“You were running tonight, weren’t you?” he asks casually. Hetakes several steps closer to me, but I have nowhere to go with the wall at my back. My neck cranes back so I can keep his face in my view when he draws nearer. I clench my fists and glare at him to hide the fear snaking up my spine.
He continues on when I don’t answer him right away. “I heard you leave and followed you. There was no phone call from Cibrina. I’m not interviewing Reid or Tinsley in the middle of the night. We’re here because you’re running from something. You’re going to tell me what that is so you can get over it and come back to Old Red with me, or you’re going to move here permanently until you can be trusted again not to run off.”
My back hits the wall, and he leans down to whisper. “I told you I’d lock you up if I could. Now that you can’t run or break out of here, we have a lot to talk about, don’t you think?”
I swallow.
Fuck.
His index finger lifts my chin to bring my face up to his. “Well? What spooked you?”
I try to keep the cringe and effort off my face as I work at pushing my thumb out of its socket. He doesn’t know I got out of these cuffs before without a key. I can just do it again. Doesn’t mean I don’t hate doing this, but I’d rather that than open up to the person who’s betrayed my trust the most. I don’t owe him explanations foranything.
As far as he knows, he abandoned me on the island with our enemies. He doesn't know my roommate rescued me that day despite his efforts against me. And he hasn't said adamn thingabout what he did since learning why I'd killed Vera. I don’t think he even flinched. As if knowing it was an accident made no difference to him at all. He’s already decided to hate me, regardless of what happens from here.
So, no, I don’t think I’ll be sharing.
“Fuck you, Aiden.”
My thumb slips over the other one in my attempt, and my body jerks the tiniest movement.
He notices.
Aiden looks down to see what I’m trying to do, and his brows furrow. He snatches my hands and throws them over my head, lacing our fingers together in each hand as he now crowds over me. “Start talking, or this will be your new home for the foreseeable future.”
I glare up at him. There’s absolutely no way I’m being locked up again. My hands struggle against his to get free, but it’s no use. I bring my leg up, but he blocks it with his own with a snarl.
“Fuck, you’re infuriating! Why do you have to make everything so difficult?!” His hands shift to the chain, and then he drops one to point it at my chest. “Give me something. If you want me to trust you, then you can’t keep running off on your own without telling us what’s going on.”
My arms jerk when I attempt to bring my hands back together, only to find that my arms are firmly stuck apart. I glance up andstare at the solid metal bar he’s holding against the wall instead of the chain. Which means I can’t reach my other hand to dislocate my thumb anymore.
Dammit.
“Well?” he demands in a low tone but no less angry.
I shift my face back to glare at him. “Why would I ever tell you anything? You’re thefirstperson who would use anything I said against me. Did you ever think that the reason I don’t tell you anything is because I don’t trustyou?” I spit back.
Aiden yanks us both back from the wall and spins us around so my back is to his front, his hands gripping the bar in front of me, and his breath heating the side of my neck. “We seem to be at an impasse, then. I won’t trust you until you share everything you’re hiding, and you don’t trust me enough to tell me any of it.”
My heart thumps like I’m running a marathon as his arms trap me back against him. Cinnamon fills my nose when I take a breath to fight the shiver slithering down my neck. “Where does that leave us?”
