Page 120 of She Haunts Me Still

She swallows. “Like you hurt your fraternity brother. Bryce.”

Ezra’s eyes darken. “I don’t remember that night at all. The only thing I know is that I had a best friend, and then suddenly, I didn’t.”

“You pushed him,” she snaps. “Off a balcony.”

“I did.” Ezra’s voice breaks over the confession. “But like the other day, it wasn’tme. The angel was coaxing me,possessingme. I think it was a test. To see if he could get me to kill you.”

She can only stare at him, devoid of pity.

“I’m not an Ivy League student,” he continues. “I’m not even a good actor or director. Or a decent person. I’m prettymuch nothing.” He swallows. “But I can still be something.Wecan still be something.”

“No,” she says. “I don’t think we can. We’ve been doomed from the start, Ezra.”

“You’re wrong.” He steps toward her. “I can fix this. It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

Mallory nearly laughs. “There’s a dagger upstairs with my name on it. There’s an audience waiting to watch me die. What could possiblyfixthis?”

“There’s a loophole,” Ezra says quickly. “Your bloodline. My bloodline. Our families have been at war, essentially, right?”

She hesitates. “Right…”

“We can break the cycle. Start something new.” He gathers her hands in his. “By merging our bloodlines as one.”

Mallory stares at him, brain short-circuiting at the suggestion.

“Ezra,” she says, “tell me you’re not saying what I think you’re saying.”

“It’s the perfect solution. Think about it.” His eyes ignite, gaze raking over the length of her. “How long does it take for them to wear off?”

Bile rises inside her. She can barely form words. “Are you—are you talking about mybirth control pills?”

“How long?” Ezra’s stare is suddenly wild, churning with desperation. “A few weeks? Months?”

“You’re serious?” Mallory cries, completely incredulous. “Do you really think, after everything you’ve done to me, I’d agree to have your child? Are you out of your fucking mind?” She pulls at her hair, feeling slightly hysterical. “For god’s sake, I’m only nineteen!”

“I’m trying to save yourlife. No one can hurt you if you’re carrying my heir, Jules. You’d be like a queen to them.” Ezra curls a hand over her stomach. “You’d be like a queen to me, too. You already are.”

Something is coming apart inside her. Since the day they met, Ezra has done nothing but steal and claim, twisting his way into her heart, possessing her mind, her body, her darkest secrets.

Determination boils brighter. She won’t let him take anything else.

“You were right, you know,” she clips, swiping his hand away. “You’reexactlylike your father.”

A pained shadow flickers across his face, and Mallory knows she landed the harshest blow possible. But his expression quickly settles into stone.

“It doesn’t matter,” Ezra says. “I’ve made sure he can’t hurt either of us. Or anyone. Ever again.” He swallows. “I wanted to tell you that, too.”

Mallory takes in his appearance again, as though she’s seeing his torn skin and bloodstained mouth for the first time.

A fresh wall of fear hits her. “What did you do?”

He presses something cold into her palm: his silver lighter.

“See for yourself.”

Mallory’s hand shakes as she flicks the lighter. Ezra’s cheekbones momentarily glow before the light goes out. She swears and snaps it again, turning. A rush of flame. A burst of dark. She flicks and turns, flicks and turns, until finally, she sees it.

A scream bursts from her mouth as the lighter falls to the floor.