I tilted my head to the side, letting the pops ripple down my neck, doing my best to ignore the fear that clutched my heart at his threat. Because deep down, I knew he was right. “Doesn’t matter. She’s mine. She’ll eventually see things my way.”
“If that’s what you think, then I almost feel sorry for you,” Slate said, disgust in his voice. “She deserves better than you. And the old Chrome gave up everything to make sure she lived. Even if it was without him, but this, what you’re doing was not what he had in mind.”
I laughed. “Well, he should’ve put more thought into that. Or maybe you’re a really shitty Guardian and couldn’t protect her.” Rising from my crouched position, I closed the distance between Slate and me. Even as I spewed my hateful words at him, I felt the betrayal deep down, hidden and suppressed. “Even with that Angel blood running through your veins, you still can’t do shit for her. You still can’t beat me.”
Slate shook his head, a pathetic look of sadness overcoming his features. “It’s never been about beating you. It’s been about protecting you, too. And I failed. So yeah, I guess you’re right, Chrome.”
“Protecting me?” A laugh erupted from my diaphragm at the ridiculousness.
Slate grinned, just one side pulling up at the edges of his mouth. “Yeah. Protecting you from yourself. Because if you die, she dies, too. So if you think I haven’t killed you because I’m physically incapable, think again. It’s been due to an incredible amount of restraint on her behalf. You’re only alive because of Gray. So maybe, you should show her a bit more gratitude for the rest of your miserable fucking days.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Cotton
After eating in the Great Hall, Brecken showed Onyx and me to our guest chambers. Our rooms sat beside one another, so when a knock sounded on my door thirty minutes after my arrival, I suspected it had to be him.
Thankfully, I’d had time to enjoy a bath in the large claw-foot tub in the connected bathroom. It had been years since I’d last soaked in a tub because I typically preferred showers. However, in the Wind Kingdom, Druids didn’t seem to have that option.
Fatigue still had its tight little fingers wrapped around my mind, begging me to crash in the canopied bed that awaited me.
At the knock, I stood on the other side of the door, debating whether I should open it or not. Onyx had always been my weakness. With my will debilitated from lack of sleep, I didn’t think I’d be able to refuse him if he made any advances. I rubbed my eyes with my palms, digging in as I took a deep breath and swung open the door.
Onyx stood with his hands stuffed in his front pockets, appearing freshly bathed himself, given the way his inky black hair draped neatly across his forehead as if he’d intentionally combed it. I beratedmyself for having the thought to glide my fingers through it until it wasn’t neat anymore.
“Hi,” Onyx said, shifting his eyes off to the side.
I raised my brows at his sudden awkwardness.
“Can I come in?” Onyx straightened his spine, forcing his gaze to remain on mine.
I caved—my first step in a short journey to regret.
Nodding, I stepped aside, allowing him to enter my room.
“So, I wanted to come by and see how you were doing after learning about—what Brecken told us in his office?” Onyx cleared his throat.
I swallowed, feeling stupid for assuming that Onyx had come here to be intimate with me like he used to. Noticing the small bar off to the right, I moved over to examine the different types of alcohol it contained. There was no way to know exactly what kind, but I assumed none of them were moonshine. I grabbed a bottle and poured it into a small chalice. Without even sniffing it, I took a sip.
It might as well have been liquid fire the way it scorched my throat, but I let it burn away the disappointment. I worked to keep a straight face, but Onyx saw through it and laughed, a rich vibration that hit every cord inside me, tugging on every string that connected to my heart.
“Oh, it can’t be that bad.” Striding toward me, he took the bottle of mystery alcohol and poured himself a glass. “Let’s see if you’re a lightweight these days.” Onyx tossed the torrid alcohol back. His eyes blew wide open just before he grimaced and swallowed. He coughed afterward and looked at me like I’d just fed him poison. “Why’d you let me do that, you dick?”
I grinned, looking at him like he lacked all the brain cells.“Some things never change.”
“Wha–” Onyx looked around. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Cotton?”
Trying to hide my smile, I said, “It means you do stupid shit with way more confidence than you deserve.”
The warmth from the alcohol began to radiate through my chest and rose straight to my head. Fast. Suddenly, my head grew fuzzy, and the lights in the room brightened, taking on a saturated hue. Onyx’s features became more pronounced, while everything in the background turned blurry, making him my sole focal point.
As for Onyx, I watched in amazement as he seemed to be experiencing the same effect. “Whoa…” His eyes glimmered as our gazes clashed. We were sucked into some strange vortex where we seemed to be the only ones who existed.
“You’re even more beautiful than the last time I saw you,” Onyx whispered, mesmerized.
We were pulled together, almost by some unseen force. I reached for his face, cupping his jaw and gliding my palm up his high cheekbone. I couldn’t help but sigh when our skin touched.“I’ve missed you so much. I lost a piece of myself when you left.”
Remorse coated his features, sinking his eyebrows. “I’m so fucking sorry, Cotton. You saved me without ever even realizing it. You kept me going all these years. I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere.”
