7
Emma
Freefall.
Is this all I am?
Open space, yawning wide beneath me. The sea opening black jaws. The wind pummeling me toward the cliffside. Haunted walls collapsing all around me.
Is this all that I was to you?
I slam into Malcom. His arms come up around me, powerful and strong. A stunningcrack!sounds behind me, followed by the roar of falling stone and crumbling earth.
We hit the ground, Malcom taking the impact by landing on his back. As soon as we’re down, he wraps me close against his chest and rolls, shielding my body with his as a wall of Blicktenner Castle shatters into the sea.
We lie there for what feels like an eternity, the reverberation of the collapse rising through the ground. I bury my face in Malcom’s chest, my entire body quaking. Beneath his rain-clothes, warmth emerges. I never want to let go. I never wanthimto let go.
“Are you all right?” he finally asks, his chest vibrating against my ear. “Emma. Look at me.”
I shake my head, burrowing deeper into his arms. “I’m OK,” I choke out, the tears beginning to flow once more. “I’m OK.”
“Can you stand?”
“No,” I admit miserably, my legs liquid and trembling.
He slowly stands, holding me up by the arms. When he releases me, I do everything I can to stay upright. But my body is useless with fear, and I collapse right back into him. He doesn’t hesitate, sweeping me into his arms.
“I’m sorry,” I say miserably, wrapping weak arms around his neck. “I’m sorry I ran.”
He’s silent as he begins trudging through the ruins and into the overgrowth.
The fear returns—but it’s different now. “Are you going to kill me?”
Malcom stops abruptly. I pull back, looking into his face. I can only make out traces of him. Furrowed brow, clenched jaw, glittering eyes. He leans toward me, and I don’t know what comes over me—but I lean toward him too.
“I will never hurt you, Emma Rosen.” His voice is barely a growl. “No matter what you do, I will never hurt you.”
Warm tears flood my eyes and spill over. “Then why did you take me?”
“You are the only woman I’ve ever seen a future with.” This he utters so quietly I’m almost certain I’ve misheard him. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth. That this is how that future has begun to unfold.”
I hold onto him, wanting more. Wanting better. Wanting another answer. I want him to say he’ll set me free; that this was all a wretched mistake. That seeing me in danger, my life threatened, was enough to change his heart.
Maybe Pete and Jen and Callie are right. Maybe, underneath this monster, there is a good man.
But that man is not good enough.
“Take me home,” I whisper, surrendering. I bury my face in his neck, angry and miserable and weak, but grateful, at least for the warmth of him. “Take me home, Malcom.”
And he does.
* * *
A knock.
I look up from where I’m sitting in the window seat, arms wrapped around my knees. “Come in.”
I jump up when it’s Malcom who enters, rather than Pete or either of the maids.
