“Were you not in that room with me?” I gesture towards the kitchen with the beer bottle. “I put it all on the table already, and she fucking left. I’m not going to chase her around in the dark like a jackass.”
“I was there,” he snaps. “In fact, I was the only one not possessed at the time, and I still don’t know what the fuck happened in there. Think about this, man. I know you’re upset, but I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow with regrets.”
I take a big swig of the beer as if my heart isn't shredded.
“I have thought about it. She’s thought about it. Maybeyouneed to think about it. She climbed down a fucking gutter in her pajamas, Cal. I think she was pretty clear about where she stands.”
“But, Gideon?—”
I snarl at him then. I can’t help it. Why can’t he understand that there’s nothing left to talk about? I poured my heart out to her in the kitchen. She knew how worried I was about her leaving and still chose to walk away. I can do the same with this conversation.
Callum sighs as I look away. When he speaks again, his voice is gentle like he’s talking to an injured animal. “You're both making a mistake. Don't let pride get in your way.”
After that parting shot, I hear the door slam shut behind him. I listen to his footsteps disappear into the night while I drain what's left of my drink.
He doesn't get it.
It's not pride that’s holding me back, but self-preservation. She’s already broken my heart once. I can’t give her the chance to do it again.
SHEENA
I feel the exact momentGideon realizes I’m gone. The pain literally brings me to my knees. Damp leaves cushion my fall. It takes a full, precious minute for me to struggle back to my feet. I was a fool not to question this connection sooner. Now that I know what it is, it’s painfully obvious it isn’t normal.
Despite the added agony in my chest, I force myself to keep going.They will come for me now that they know about my abilities.Tears and blood drip to the forest floor as I descend the mountain.
After about fifteen minutes, my bravado crumbles.
I’m seeing spots now, and it's beyond difficult to navigate. I can't seem to focus. I should have reached the little barn already,which tells me I must have missed it somewhere in the dark. As both warmth and hope leech out of me, I wander aimlessly ahead on autopilot.
I’m getting rained on now, and I’m not dressed for it. Each gust of wind slices through my clothes, lashing my skin like a whip. My body is so numb I can’t even feel the fear that consumed me just half an hour ago. When a wolf howl cuts through the wind, my whole body shivers.
That sounded close.
I scan the trees. Instead of a four-legged predator, I see Callum stomping towards me on two. Even in the dark, I can tell he’s dripping wet and pissed all the way off.
“I didn’t want to scare you.” His voice is cold and angry, and even though I’m determined to be brave, I jerk back from the sound. The involuntary movement knocks me off balance and I stumble.
“Shit, Sheena,” the demon curses, grabbing my arms and steadying me. “I know you’re freaked out, but this is the stupidest stunt I’ve seen in my fucking life. It’s not safe out here.”
“Let me go, Callum,” I demand, trying and failing to sound tough. I can barely hear my own voice over the wind and rain. He ignores my protests, draping a huge jacket over my shoulders. I shrug my arms in and push off of him.
“Quit fighting me,” he snaps, zipping the front of the jacket and yanking the hood over my soaked hair. “If you still want to go tomorrow, you can take my fucking car.” Through the spots in my vision, I see him wave what looks like keys in front of my face. “But you’re not about to walk down this mountain in the dark, leaving a blood trail behind you and attracting every predator within a ten-mile radius.”
He thinks I’m crazy. Maybe he’s right, but if I could just make him understand.
“Keys are just keys,” I slur my way through the words. “Now that you know what I can do, I'll never be free.”
“I don’t know shit.” His brow furrows as he looks down at me. “Gods, did you hit your head or something climbing down the gutter? You’re not a hostage.” He glances over his shoulder. “We are, however, both at risk of falling off a cliff or getting eaten by a mountain lion.” He kicks at a branch, then runs his fingers through his wet hair.
“Look, full disclosure, I’m really fucking mad at you right now, but I don’t want you dead. Can we at least go back to the house to argue? You’re as pale as a ghost, and I'm freezing my ass off.”
Staring up at Callum in the dark, I want to believe him so badly. A demon I barely know who has the power to make me want him. I trusted him when he promised he would never use his magic to control me, but that was before he knew what I could do. Surely, with the ability to make his every wish come true standing right in front of him, he’ll consider that promise null and void. If he used his incubus powers right now, I would fall in line immediately. So what is he waiting for?
He’s not the kind of person to break a promise...
It’s a dangerous thought, but I can’t get rid of it. Seconds tick by, then minutes. Callum doesn’t say another word, just waits in silence for me to make my decision. My resolve melts in the face of the rain and his patience.
“Okay. Let's go back to the house,” I stutter. He’s right. My body is shutting down, and I couldn’t even make it to the barn.
