Page 74 of Wrangled
“Exactly.”
Ispend the rest of the day outside. It’s only when it gets too dark for me to see properly that I give up for the day. I turn to head back and startle when I see Riggs waiting for me.
“You scared the shit out of me.” I huff out a laugh, tugging off my gloves and stretching to work out the kinks. “How goes the workshop? I can’t wait until I have more space to move around.”
When he doesn’t answer, I move closer, worried something has happened. “Riggs?”
I’m barely a foot from him when he lifts his head. The hat that was obscuring my vision shows me the face of a man I hoped I’d never see again.
“Austin?” My voice croaks as he takes a step toward me, his eyes drinking me in as if he’s been waiting a whole lifetime for this moment.
“It’s been a long time, Calliope. Too long.”
Sparks crackle over my skin, my fear and anger creating the perfect storm. I bite my lip hard enough to taste blood. If he lays a single finger on me, I won’t be able to stop myself from killing him where he stands.
“Get the fuck off my land,” I snarl.
He ignores me, moving closer. “Don’t,” he whispers, his eyes moving over my body in a soft caress. It’s enough to make me want to claw his eyes out.
“I swear to god if you come near me, I’ll kill you.”
“No, you won’t. You’re not a killer, Calliope.”
I laugh then, a twisted, ugly sound that would strip the flesh from anyone else’s bones. But not Austin. He’s far too potent for that. “I think the justice system would disagree with you there.”
The sparks have grown in intensity. They’re almost painful now. I’ll need to purge it soon before it becomes too much.
“Your father was a fucking scourge on the world that needed wiping out. If I’d known what would happen, I’d?—”
“Don’t. Don’t you fucking dare. You drugged me.”
“I was trying to keep you safe.”
“Fuck you. I was raped because of you.”
He flinches so hard he staggers. So it wasn’t him. But that just means he left me vulnerable to his brother. He’s just as guilty in my eyes.
“Why? Why would you do that to me?”
He removes his hat and runs his hand through his hair. “It’s complicated.”
“How about I uncomplicate things for you?” I lift my hand so he can see the sparks jumping around my palm.
“I’m not scared of you, Calliope. Your powers won’t work on me.”
That has me startled. “You know what I am?”
“Of course I do. My family has been in this town as long as yours has, if not longer.”
I think back to the history books I read before it hits me. “Dyer,” I snarl, remembering that name now. I never made the connection before. “Can’t say I’m surprised. For a small town, we collect a lot of fucking murderers.”
“I’m born from a long line of hunters. It’s in my blood, just like witchcraft is in yours, but I’m not like my ancestors.”
I smirk, the sparks jumping higher. “Why? Because you didn’t kill me yet? You think you’re better than that because you used rape as foreplay?”
“I didn’t?—”
“You set it in motion. What the fuck did you think would happen when you left me drugged and unconscious?”
