“But your ribs,” I say, and without thinking, my hands go to his ribs. He doesn’t flinch at my touch.
His gray eyes seem to soak in all the features of my face, and the way he’s looking at me makes me a little insecure. That is, until he cups my cheek, and I instantly feel something more than I should.
“I’ll be fine,” he assures me. “You’re sneaky, though. Stabbing people, distracting them, and then using your powers.” He winks.
“Whatever it takes to win,” I say.
“Is that right?”
“Yup. Now let me up,” I tell him.
“Now, why would I do a thing like that?”
“Because…”
“Because?” he questions, his attention locked on my lips.
I have nothing left to give.
His gaze won’t stop flicking between my lips and eyes, as if he’s asking for permission.
“Soren,” someone says.
His body tenses. I feel it under my palm. He’s on his feet in a flash, holding his hand out to help me up. I set my palm in his, and he pulls me up.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” he says to me, then turns in the direction of the voice.
I peer around him at Maya, who is standing there. She usually has a judgmental expression when she sees Soren with me, but right now, she looks lost.
But I won’t pity her.
No, she doesn’t deserve that from me.
“Maya, what are you doing here?” he asks.
“It’s been weeks, Soren. You have to forgive me,” she pleads.
She appears quite pale, almost sickly, and her hair is greasy and lifeless around her face. She looks miserable.
“What you did wasunforgivable,” he tells her.
I glance at him and then back to her. She’s crying now, and they seem to be real tears.
“I would never have hurt him. I only wanted you to remember how important family is. We are important to each other, as Cressida and her son. We have a bond.”
He tenses at her words, but doesn’t back down.
“We are not the same as them. I am not your father, Maya. I have helped you enough, and I can’t keep doing it. It’s unhealthy for both of us.”
I see the tight line of his jaw, the way his hands clench at his sides. It’s clear this isn’t easy for him. Without thinking, I reach out, my hand brushing against his. He takes it without hesitation. In that simple touch, I feel the weight of what he’s doing, drawing a line, protecting us both, even if it hurts him. For the first time, I understand just how much this means to him. And suddenly, my anger toward Maya fades, replaced with something softer, a quiet gratitude for the man standing firm beside me.
FORTY
SOREN
I knowmy sister well enough to tell if she’s trying to pull one over on me. And right now, she definitely isn’t. I know that she’s broken, but I can’t be the one to always put her back together. It’s not my job anymore. She’s a grown-ass adult, and she needs to start living like one. I’ve given her everything necessary for her to live the best life possible, and she keeps on blowing it.
I’m at the point that I have no idea what I’m supposed to do about it. So, I’ve thrown my hands up in the air and said, “Fuck it, she can work it out herself.” I don’t need to baby her, even if she is my baby sister. I got her this far, and I don’t need to take her any farther. She’s in her early thirties, and by now she should have at least a fraction of her life together, but she’s barely held a job for longer than a few weeks. She likes to blame it on her sickness, but that doesn’t prevent her from working. She uses it as a weapon, and I see that now. And I have to stop letting her do it.
