“I’mfine.” Cole’s voice was insistent, and it only took me a second to realize the words weren’t for the man standing in front of him.
They were for me, and his wide-eyed expression made me wonder if he could feel some of the animosity burning through me, spitting feelings and emotions I didn’t quite understand into his chest. I’d experienced them enough by now in the year that I’d had to feel every mortal I’d reaped… but feeling the low embers of rage burning through someone else and feeling it myself was…
It was different.
“Are you sure? You were so pale. You…”
“You fainted too. Maybe there’s something in the air? I feel fine, Preston, I promise.” He gave him a pat on the shoulder and stepped back, carefully crossing his arms over his chest. I wasn’t sure if he was doing it to distance himself from the lie, or if he wanted to make sure I didn’t do something to his friend because of my unchecked emotions.
Either way, I appreciated the space. I wasn’t sure what I would have done without it.
Chapter 13
Cole
I openedmy mouth to tell Preston I was going to head home—I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get in trouble for leaving, since I’d probably done a bad job convincing him he hadn’t just seen me dead. I couldn’t be here for the conversation I needed to have with Sephtis… not when it was obvious from the way Prestonhadn’tmentioned the other man in the room that he couldn’t see him.
I needed to yell.
I needed to tell him he had no right to bring me back to lifeagain.
I needed him to explain what the fuck had just happened. I didn’t understandwhyI’d died.
And I didn’t understand the feelings that had poured over me when I came back to myself with the coolness of his frame pressed against mine—I didn’t understand the emotions that were weighing on me, heavier than he had been, from the words he’d said.
All I can do is whatever it takes to keep you by my side.
Why did he have to sound so fuckingsincerewhen he said it? Why did his golden eyes have to flash like the fucking sun?
Why did he have to look so perfect?
The thoughts just made the anger roiling like an undercurrent beneath my skin rage on, and I was already thinking of exactly what I was going to tell him when the sound of a howl tore through the air.
Preston didn’t react.
Sephtis’s eyes went wide and he turned to me. “We need to move, now.”
The same urgency from the alley was written across his face… and there was a moment where I thought about telling him no, telling himhecould move but I was staying right here. He’d explained what the hounds were, but I honestly wasn’t sure Icared.
Maybe he could see it in my eyes, because he was already stepping forward.
The last thing I needed was Preston witnessing my body being dragged out of the garage by an invisible force, so I threw my hands up. “I think I’m actually going to call in for the day. Maybe I came back a little too soon after the wreck, after all.”
“You should wait until someone gets here. I had them call an ambulance.”
I shook my head. “I’ll be fine. Call it off. Can’t really afford that twice in a week. It’s fine, Preston. I promise.” I was already backing away, and the only thing he could really do was watch me with wide, concerned eyes. “Can you make sure you clock out for me?”
“Yeah… sure… listen. Call me when you get home, okay? And call to check in.” I could hear the concern clear in his voice, and some small part of me felt guilty that I was leaving like this without a good explanation. I would have humored him with a hospital visit if I could have… but that howling noise was getting closer, and the way Sephtis had his hands clenched into fists at his sides told me he wasn’t going to afford me the patience necessary to placate my coworker.
As soon as I was out of the garage and around the corner, he was at my side. I didn’t want to go back to my apartment, or maybe it was just that I wasn’t willing to have him follow me there. I didn’t want to be stuck behind walls with him, behind a closed door. I didn’t want to deal with all these emotions attempting to drown me, trapped in a closed space with no way to escape.
So I led him further into town—maybe it wasn’t the safest area, but I didn’t care. There was a six-foot-too-fucking-tall monster with me who apparently refused to let me die. I was fine.
Speaking of that monster… When he tried to reach for me, I jerked away.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? What was that back there?” The question had so many meanings. The way he was acting, the wayI’dreacted. The fact that I’d died at all.
And of course, he wasn’t going to be helpful. “There’s no time to explain.”
