For a moment, I hesitate, unsure what to say, but then the memory of what he told me after I destroyed the city flashesthrough my mind, and a bitter laugh escapes my chest. I really feel like I’m losing it.
Taking a deep breath, I cross my arms over my chest, and decide to throw out a small provocation, maybe just to see how much he remembers. Does he know anything? Am I still alone in this timeline, like a castaway on an island, out of place, a stranger, broken inside?
"What’s that smell? The blood of innocents?" My tone is mocking and bitter.
Bay’s mouth twists in a mix of disdain and amusement.
"Not my scene. That’s more your specialty."
Oh.
Oh!
Realization surges through me, and it’s almost like a strange bliss. A relief. So he knows. How come? Well, I’m not that alone after all.
Blinking, I think about my response but choose the bratty one, just to stay vaguely sane.
So I jut my lips. "Thatdidn’thappen."
"Oh really? You sure? Because I remember it did."
Damn. I swallow hard. I desperately need to change the subject, to push all this crap away from me. That’s when I notice a dried streak of red across his hand.
"What’s that?" I reach for his sleeve, trying to pull his hand under the garage light.
But Bay’s reflexes are sharp. He jerks his hand back fast.
"Don’t touch me," he says flatly.
"You touched me," I shoot back, narrowing my eyes and pointing to my neck. He sure did, when he threatened to kill me for what I did. There’s no way around that.
Silence settles between us.
Bay leans toward me slowly. His features are so much like Snow’s: beautiful, balanced, the same nose, mouth, cheekbones,but his eyes… Bay’s eyes burn with something else. Anger. Hostility.
Not even directed at me specifically, but at the whole world.
"I only lay hands on evildoers."
The silence grows heavier. And I mean as heavy as the dense matter of a neutron star… That scale.
Bay’s brows draw together as he tilts his head.
"Just don’t push it, Summer. I’m watching you."
I let out a loud, irritated snort. I don’t want to feel that, I don’t want to be reminded, so I burst out,
"Seriously? I’m not the bad guy here! The Ferros—"
Bay just raises two fingers to his eyes and then points them at me.
"Just keep it in check."
My lips tremble.
"You—you don’t understand…"
"Oh, I understand. I just don’t approve."
