Page 155 of Infernal Secrets

I straightened. “You have nothing to worry about,” I reassured her, striking where it would strengthen her resolve and prevent us from making a mistake we’d both regret. “I’d never fuck a human, even if it meant stripping my hand raw and pleasuring myself for the rest of my life alone.”

Without looking at her, I exited the room.

When I turned the corner, I found Ash leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a severe frown cutting across his face.

“You’re full of shit,” he said.

I lifted a brow. “Excuse me?”

He pushed off the wall and came to me. “She’s just as much in your head as you’re in hers.” His half-grin sparked a flicker of annoyance inside me. “I know you, brother. Had Rae been receptive just now, you’d be balls deep inside her, and you know it.”

I didn’t entertain his statement with a response.

My parting words had said enough, because Ash was right—and I hated it.

37

BREAKING

RAE

The week following my confrontation with Ezra confused me.

Cyn and Ezra’s frustrating attitudes didn’t change, but Zeke and Ash acted like different people.

Zeke’s deepening depression made me question his claim that sleeping with Cyn didn’t bother him. He hadn’t shut down, but he kept escaping outside alone and returned with red-rimmed eyes and slumped shoulders.

Next came Ash.

Before our talk killed any chance of more between us, he lingered near me—even when he wasn’t part of the conversation. I’d grown used to his proximity; his distance left me lonely and confused.

I knew we couldn’t be more, but I allowed myself to entertain the thought. For our own good, he needed to say those things to keep us from doing something foolish—like sleeping together.

I scoffed. Lot of good that did us.

He stopped mentioning my unhealthy breakfast habits, too.

Given his sudden withdrawal, I wondered if he could stay friends with someone he wanted.

I twirled the black cord of my necklace between my fingers, watching the small black stone spin.

It’d been a week since Ezra had cornered me in my bedroom to ask about Mom’s necklace. I still didn’t understand why she owned a crystal from their world. She never talked about interacting with infernals—only seeing them the way I did. Did one of them give her the necklace? If so, for what reason?

“Rae! You back here?”

“Breakroom!”

Maya appeared in the doorway carrying two takeout containers from the Greek restaurant in the food court. “Salad for you, and a loaded gyro sandwich for me.” She plopped down in the seat next to me at the plastic table. “What’s with the rabbit food?”

“Thought I should eat healthier,” I said, slipping my necklace beneath my blouse and clipping my hair off my shoulders.

Her face puckered as if she’d sucked a lemon. “But why?”

I shrugged, not wanting to lie. My diet wasn’t terrible, but Ash’s healthy influence had me paying more attention to what I put in my body.

I opened the lid of my lunch. I missed his concern.

“Earth to Rae.”