Page 107 of Pretty Little Shadow
When he pulled me close in his sleep, still snoring steadily, I couldn't stop the tears that dripped to the mattress.
I wasn't crying about Darius. Not anymore.
Now, I cried for the past I'd tried and failed to run away from. And all of the truths I was going to have to learn how to embrace.
twenty
DARIUS
Rae wasquiet the next afternoon, when we woke up together.
I didn't think anything of it at first, assuming she was just tired.
When she didn't come around during our afternoon breakfast, I was forced to acknowledge that something might be wrong.
"Are you okay?" I asked, as she sat in bed and ate the pancakes I'd ordered. I'd never seen her eat anything that slowly before.
"I'm good." She met my eyes, but her expression was distant.
I hoped she just needed time to adjust to the bond, so I didn't ask her again while we packed her things in the hotel room.
Or when we drove to the house we were moving into on Fae Row.
Or when I gave her the grand tour.
Or when she insisted on helping me carry boxes in, no matter how hard I tried to convince her otherwise.
She didn't talk much when I ordered takeout food, or when we dropped onto the couch in the living room that she seemed to really like.
She snuggled up close, though.
"Want to play a video game?" I used the question to scope out how well she was actually doing. She was pretty much always up for a video game.
"I'd rather not."
Shit.
"What's going on, Rae? You seem upset. Is it about the bond?"
"No. It has nothing to do with the bond. I'm just... thinking." She slipped off my lap.
Fuck.
Shouldn't have brought it up.
"Thinking what?"
"I think I need to be alone for a little while. You're okay with my shadows, right?"
Most of them were clinging to me, now. It was impossible not to notice. I felt genuinelygoodall the time. Light. Energetic. Upbeat.
It was fucking weird—in a good way. The best way.
She didn't seem to be leaving her shadows with me on purpose, but she also didn't seem affected by the loss.
"I'm fine. Whatever it is, we can talk about it," I said.
"I... no. Sorry. I can't." She moved quickly, disappearing in the direction of our bedroom.
