Page 32 of Tether
A near-silent shift next to me has my breath hitching, but I don’t need to turn my head to know who’s accompanying me. It’s quiet tonight, nothing but a soft breeze rustling through the trees, and the soft sway of the willow branches overhead. I haven’t seen Loxen all week, and his sudden proximity has every atom of my being aware of his presence. We lay next to each other in silence, each of us refusing to break our wordless truce.
Feeling’s mutual, little crow.His words from the last time we spoke haunt me. I hadn’t meant what I said about disliking him, but it seemed to have stirred something sour inside of him, for him to make such an effort in avoiding me all week.
“I’m sorry.” His voice splits through the silence, and I still. It’s just above a whisper, lowand sincere, and it takes me a moment to form coherent thoughts. I didn’t think Loxen Gray knew what an apology was, and by the sound of it, he doesn’t dish them out often.
Lolling my head towards him, the scent of earth, the faint smell of cigarettes and something sweet lingers in the air between us. He looks on edge and rough, like he hasn’t been sleeping well either. I don’t speak a word as he rolls his head towards me, his gaze drifting from the stars, and instantly finding my eyes, like a moth to a flame. My traitorous heart stutters in my chest. Loxen’s cobalt gaze stays fixed on mine, and it’s like the rest of the world has gone quiet. Like breaking contact would shatter something frangible between us, like an inevitable tide, dragging me into the abyss. His presence stirs and calms me in the same breath, and it’s maddening.
Loxen’s throat bobs as he studies my face, as if searching for answers.
“I’m sorry,” he repeats, “for losing my temper the other day.”
A steady stream of heat courses through me, painting my cheeks pink.
Raising my brows, I smirk. “Huh. I didn’t think assholes knew how to apologize.”
Loxen huffs a laugh. “What a relief your sharp tongue didn’t dull in my absence.”
“You’re infuriating,” I say, unable to contain the laugh that escapes me. Loxen’s eyes trace the curve of my lips.
“You’re breathtaking,” he fires back, like it’s the simplest truth he knows, and butterflies swarm in the pit of my stomach. I’m rendered speechless, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. He said I’m breathtaking, yet I’m the one struggling to fill my lungs with air.
My smile falters. The reason for my attendance in the garden in the first place ripples through my mind. Soft dimples and warm blonde hair. Reed. I swallow and watch Loxen’s expression shift, as if reading my mind, witnessing me spiral.
“Lox—”
“He doesn’t deserve you,” he grits out, jaw flexing.
“Reed isn’t as bad as you seem to think. He isn’t perfect, but none of us are,” I snap.
“Well, that’s an understatement if I ever heard one,” he digs.
I click my tongue, unamused by his jab. “You don’t see the potential in him that I do.” He’s quiet for a long moment before his voice softens.
“You shouldn’t fall in love with potential, little crow.”
He hoists himself up on his elbow, facing me. Anger, desire, and angerformy desire twists inside of me. Loxen has known me for all of two minutes, and all of a sudden, he thinks he knows what’s best for me? Like, he didn’t disappear on me this entire week?
“Tell me, Lox. Who’sworthyof my love then?You?” I bite under my breath, irritated.
“God, no.” He shakes his head, gaze falling to my lips. “But that doesn’t stop me from wanting you.”
He gradually dips his head low, inching towards me, conflicted, like he knows he shouldn’t, but can’t help himself. I suck in a breath as his mouth hovers above mine. He seems calm despite the heaving of his chest, which matches my own.
“I can’t stay away from you.”
My mouth goes dry, and fuck, I’ve never wanted to be kissed more than I do right now. His hand flexes at his side, then reaches for my cheek. Time seems to slow, and just as he’s about to brush a loose curl from my cheek, the sound of glass shattering sounds in the distance, and slices clean through our moment.
I jolt upward, my breath catching in my throat. Loxen’s brows hitch together, looking in the direction the noise originated. His eyes darken, a million thoughts seeming to drag him far away from the present. “If I asked you to stay here until I made sureeverything was safe, would you?”
“No,” I reply stubbornly.
Loxen nods his head, seeming to already know my answer before asking it. “I didn’t think so.”
His tall frame towers over me as he stares over my head in the direction of the manor. “Just promise me one thing,” he says, returning his eyes to mine.
“What?”
“You’ll stay behind me, and do exactly as I say.”
