“Say that to me after you know everything, and I’ll never deny you a single fucking thing.” He inhales through his nose. “But only if you answer one question for me now, Nova, and I need you to tell me the truth.” His voice is suddenly gentle, the atmosphere in the room completely changing, as if we weren’t just battling, as if we weren’t just fighting a war with our tongues.
“Anything,” I say, and I mean it. I will answer any question he throws at me. I will tell him whatever he wants to know.
“Why did you stop fighting?” He breathes into my hair.
I go still.
It’s that same tone again. The one I heard months ago. The one he used when he first asked me this question.
And I know exactly what he’s referring to.
When Norin and the others attacked me.
My throat tightens.
“Because I was weak. Because I was nothing. Because I didn’t deserve to be one of the few who get to live.”
His chest brushes against mine just before his palm grazes my cheek, urging me to look at him.
“And now?” His eyes fill with heat, with want, withneed,and my pulse stutters.
“I am not weak. I am not nothing. And I will survive.”
Chapter 33
Serafina
I watch Jax reach for his shirt. With his back to me, my eyes trace his many scars, but then they snag on what looks to be…no…that can’t be right…that can’t be…
But it is.
My heart thunders, drowning out all sound, all noise, a painful thrumming in my ears the only thing I hear.
Some of the scars…they weren’t there the last time I saw his back. I’m sure of it.
My face heats with rage.
Jax turns, his lips pursing as hetakes in my face.
“It was nothing,” he whispers, pulling the black shirt over his head, dark like the shadows he wields, matching his hair and hugging his muscled frame.
“When?” I demand because I need to know. I need him to confirm the horrific thoughts wreaking havoc on my mind.
“You know when.”
Fuck.
“Because of me?” My voice breaks. It breaks because in order for this to have happened, Jax had toletit happen. He’s stronger than his father, his shadows and light a power the king could never dream of possessing.
Which means Jaxallowedhim to whip him.Heallowedhim to beat him, totorturehim.
“And I’d let him do it again, and again, and again if it meant you’d get to live. So wipe that fucking look off your face, Nova, and realize that you mean more to me than some wounds on my back. Wounds that have healed, by the way. But losing you? There’s no coming back from that.”
My jaw clenches, and my skin burns and burns becausefuck,how is he so good with words? How can he infuriate meandmake me melt at the exact same time?
I inhale through my nose and try to recenter myself.
“Thank you. For not letting him kill me,” I finally manage to say, biting my tongue to keep from screaming at him for letting his father hurt him.
