Now the silence is overwhelming, and I wonder where her mind is, if it's somewhere I can reach her. My chances are notgood, but Isla's misery was never the goal, and I can't let it continue much longer, or she's actually going to harm herself.
I groan, standing and gearing up for the fight I know is coming. But better a fight than another second of this wallowing, apathetic creature she's become.
Food in hand, I tap on her door with my foot.
The shuffling of her bedding behind it proves she's still awake, but she doesn't get out of bed, no intention of facing me. Well, too fucking bad.
Twisting the handle and tossing the door open, I watch as her head pops up from the nest of blankets she's created. "What?" Her cold eyes meet mine, the purpling beneath them growing more evident every day.
"You need to eat," I tell her, holding the food in her direction.
"Not hungry," she breathes, remaining utterly lifeless.
I feel my eye beg to twitch and take a deep breath. "Isla, you haven't eaten anything in days."
"IsaidI'm not hungry."
A furious chuckle leaves my chest, "Bullshit. I can hear your stomach all the way from the kitchen."
Her eyes flare in anger, but she doesn't relent. "I'm not. Fucking. Hungry."
Heat builds in my chest, my patience already close to snapping, "Isla. I'll make you a deal. Eat the food, and I'll let you have a drink."
Eyes narrowing as she glances at the plate of egg rolls and fried rice, she haughtily sniffs. "No thanks. I'm not some alcoholic, you can't use it like a fucking bargaining chip."
"Fine. How about this? You stand up, eat and I won't come over there and shove it down your fucking throat?" The threat comes out unbidden, but I mean every word of it.
The first sign of life lights up her face in challenge, "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me," I goad, taking a single step towards her. I'm almost hoping she won't eat, just so I have a reason to fight her, trap her with my body, and force her mouth open to shove something inside it. The images of it set my blood on fire, sending goosebumps across my skin in anticipation.
For the briefest second, I think I'll get my chance. Then she takes all the fun out of it, sighing. "Fine. Leave it there, and I'll eat.
"No."
A brow raises in disbelief, "What do you mean no?"
I definitely can't tell her that I want to fight her,wantto force her. So, I think of a lie as quickly as possible. "You'll eat in the kitchen, where I can keep an eye on you."
"You brought it all the way in here, just to not let me eat it here?"
Fuck."I planned to leave it, but I don't trust you."
"What exactly do you think I'll do with it, Eamon?" her mouth wrapping around the syllables of my name makes my heartbeat quicken, even when she says it with nothing but disdain. "I don't even have so much as a trashcan in here to throw it away."
"Kitchen." I bite, turning on a heel and leaving the way I came. "If you're not there in the next 30 seconds, I'll make good on my promise to force-feed you."
Almost immediately, the rustling of sheets and the padding of her feet on the floor follow behind me, her labored movements all the more proof that she can't keep going on like this.
I place the plate on one end of the kitchen island, sliding a tall stool in front of it and pointing at it as she walks in. Then I take my place across from her, pulling a single beer from the Aether and planting my ass on another stool to watch her, just like I promised.
She eases onto the stool, her eyes not meeting mine as she takes the fork and begins to eat.
A breath of relief eases out of me, and I hide it behind another swig. A meal might not solve everything, but her eating is non-negotiable. I won't let Isla kill herself just to spite me.
After a handful of bites, she stands.
I snap my fingers and gesture back down, "You're not done yet."
