Page 191 of Malice and Surrender
“You mean like let her roam around?”
Or run away as fast as she can.
“Yes, that’s what I meant.”
He lifted his shoulders and let them drop dramatically. “I can’t. I keep her chained for her own safety.”
That was an answer I didn’t see coming. If I’d been a betting man, I would’ve said he took this girl because she caught his eye. He didn’t understand it, so he had to find a way to make it make sense.
“So, someone is after her?”
“No.”
“But she’s in danger?”
“No.”
For fucks sake, I knew this was another rabbit hole of insanity.
“Okay then.” This was a redundant conversation, and my brain was screaming it would rather fuck Jace than spend one more second in this conversation. That said it all.
“Night Wilder.” I went to turn and then held up a finger. “Oh, and no coming into the bedroom. I don’t care about the reason…unless someone is dying, the place is on fire, or you see people breaking in. But those are the only reasons you step foot in the bedroom, especially when I’m having sex.” Like it wasn’t weird enough that he was sitting listening, I didn’t need him propped up in the corner scribbling in his book. “Got it?”
“Sure, but why would I want to?” He screwed up his face, his eyebrows raising like I was the one saying something crazy.
I bit my lip to keep from freaking out. “Just don’t.” I turned and stomped away. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mumbled under my breath and jogged up the stairs. Maybe there was such a thing as Wilder repellent. If not, there should be, and the first can I’d hand out was to the girl he had locked up.
Avro
Everything hurt, yet waking up being held by Jace felt amazing. My eyes fluttered open, my forehead touched Raine’s as she slept, and I couldn’t help but smile. I looked over at Kai, who was surprisingly still here and asleep.
I was still pissed at him for threatening Jace and me, but Jace said he had the situation handled and for me not to worry. How was I not supposed to worry? We were talking about our lives. We could be sent to prison for the rest of what was left of them.
“You’re awake,” Jace’s soft breath made me shiver as he whispered against my neck. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“I’m sorry again about last night. I wasn’t thinking,” Jace said, his arm tightening around me.
“I’m good, really, don’t worry about it. If I didn’t think I could handle it, I would’ve spoken up,” I said, and he scoffed.
“No, you wouldn’t,” Jace said. My mouth turned up in a smile.
“You’re right. I like to push too much.”
“Did you tell Raine you need another surgery?”
I stared at her peacefully sleeping face and so badly wanted to touch her but didn’t dare with Kai holding her. Last night was a massive breakthrough, but no one knew what today would bring after he woke up in this bed.
“No, not yet. I will. It’s not that important,” I said. “We’ve had a lot going on. I just didn’t want to….”
“Burden anyone,” Jace finished for me.
“You know me too well.” I shuffled around and tried not to wince as I rolled over to face Jace. The first rays of the sun peeking through the blackout curtains reflected the silver in his eyes. They were always so intense but held a softness as he stared at me.
“You’re not a burden. Why do you even think like that?” Jace cupped my cheek, and I soaked in his warmth.
“I don’t know, you know me. I’m a cancer sign. It’s in our nature to be emotional,” I teased, but Jace didn’t smile.
