“It hurts doesn’t it!” Cas roars.
“Fuck you!” I scream back. “Pull her up!”
The way Caspian is looking at me reminds me of Xaden, the pure unfiltered hatred is right there for the world to see. It’s clear Xaden wasn’t the only one wearing a mask, Cas has been too and I was just too damn blind to see it.
“I’ll do anything you want, just… please, don’t kill her,” I choke out as I begin to crumple in Xaden’s hold.
“Who’s in charge, Tink?” Xaden says in an even tone like he isn’t even affected by the fact my friend is drowning right in front of us.
“You are,” I breathe out in a defeated tone.
Xaden shoves me forward and I fall to my knees. “Bring her ass up,” he snaps at Cas. The latter looks pissed but does as he’s told. Strangled pleas escape me as I crawl to the edge of the jetty to get closer. I peer down, but the water’s too dark to see beneath its surface. She’s lost to me and there isn’t a thing I can do to help her. I’m utterly powerless and I fucking hate it.
Powerless.
That’s the word I would use to describe my life since that night. I'm nothing but a passenger in this world of darkness that I am being forced to live in. There is no hope for me, no happyending, no love story, just plain old powerless me, being forced to live by the rules of others who hold all the power and control.
CHAPTER FORTY
XADEN
When Harper finally breaches the surface of the water, Toren breaks down. All that defiance and fight drains out of her at the sight of her friend gasping for air. The bitch is alive because I ordered it. I’m the one in control and now that she knows that, she will fall into place and play her part until it’s her time to die.
Make no fucking mistake, Toren Kellar will die, but it will be by my hand.
“Get up,” I snarl at the bitch. She sniffles and wipes her eyes but does as I say. “Get the fuck in the car and wait for me.” She keeps her head down as she walks out of the shack, obeying my command. Harper is still trembling and coughing but I ignore that shit as I say, “You live because I allowed it.” She lifts her head sluggishly and stares at me with a blank look on her face.
“She will fucking ruin you,” she rasps out.
I laugh but there’s no humor to it. “She’ll be dead before the idea ever enters her mind.” Harper displays no shock at my words, just clamps her mouth closed and drops her chin to her chest. “Cut her ass down and bring her back. I want her with us as a reminder to that cunt that I can end her whenever I want if she steps out of line,” I bark at Cas before I make my way outside to find Toren sitting in the car like I instructed. When Iclimb in beside her, she shrinks as far away from me as she can. “Disgusted by me, are ya, Tink?” I taunt.
“No,” she whispers as I peel out of there, spraying gravel everywhere.
I scoff. “Lie to me again,” I warn in a harsh tone.
“I’m not.” Her meek tone is a balm to my battered fucking soul. Every second I have spent with her and being forced to stomach the sight of her daily is worth it, just to revel in this moment of her downfall.
“Bullshit,” I bite out.
“I don’t care what you believe.”
“Careful, Tink. We wouldn’t dare old Harper to take another dip, would we?”
I feel her glare burning into the side of my head but don’t acknowledge it. “I’ll do whatever you want. Say whatever you want me to, but the one thing I won’t do is lie to you.” I glance over at her and see the truth in her eyes. I purse my lips and nod.
“Are you wet?” My question has her gasping and her mouth snapping closed. “Answer me,” I seethe.
Disgust flashes across her face. “Not anymore,” she forces out through clenched teeth.
I laugh, I guess the bitch was telling the truth after all. “What changed?”
“You tried to murder my friend,” she hisses.
I wave her off like an asshole. “You had to be taught a lesson.”
“Fuck you, Xaden.”
I jerk the car to the side of the deserted road, then swivel in my seat to face her. The bitch matches my move with a fire swirling in her eyes.
