"You promised that as long as I got her to marry Talon, she wouldn't be harmed." Each word rattled with anger that Chance knew better than to release.
"I did. I also told you to train her, so she'll be a killer. Her being a wife is helpful, but I'd hate for her talents to go to waste. Maybe I can link her with Honor and turn her into?—"
I slammed my eyes shut before he could finish. My throat ached with a scream I couldn't let out. Honor couldn't be tied to anyone when he was barely holding himself together. My hands trembled, my chest tightened, and for a moment I felt like I couldn't breathe. My body went numb until I heard Honor's soothing ghostlike rasp invade my mental space.
"Calm down, Navy. You're too good to get caught up in the horrors of this mansion. Breathe for me. Breathe."
I hummed, as Honor taught me, whenever I had one of my attacks. My father liked to think I was being dramatic, but Honor understood and coached me through my attacks whenever he could. I slowly unclenched my jaw, and a shuddering breath pulled back the panic. Taking one last deep breath, I forced myself to continue listening.
"Shared pain is a strange kind of glue. It seals cracks between people, binding them with the memory of surviving together."
"So, you want him to go there to trauma bond?" Chance foolishly asked. He didn't understand what my father was saying, but I did.
"Trauma forges loyalty in the same way fire tempers steel. Honor will create his team through the pain that brought them to Gravehart Homes, and their desperate need to not shatter alone."
"Navy, what are you doing in my room?" My name falling from Honor's lips lugged me from the spiral of my own mind.
"I'm bringing in your birthday with you," I softly answered. "This is the first one we get to spend together since it's on a weekend."
"Come on, Navy. I already told you birthdays aren't deep for me. It's just another year spent surviving in a world I'm not even sure I wanna be a part of."
"I hate that you feel that way."
Moving away from the window, I walked around his bed to meet him where he felt most comfortable… the shadows. Literally and figuratively, Honor found comfort in the places he didn't belong, almost like he couldn't see his own light or believed it didn't exist.
"What you doing, Navy?"
My hand slipped into his, our fingers meeting at the tips. His touch felt cold, rough, unloved. I hated that for him. What Honor couldn't see in himself, I saw at ten.
"I want to celebrate you, Honor," I whispered.
"I don't deserve a celebration. Ain't shit good about me," he groaned, stepping back and taking his touch with him.
"Honor," I called out.
"Nah, Navy. You gotta go." Honor grabbed the bedroom door, yanking it open wider than it already was. "Lucian and Chance are probably on their way back here anyway. You shouldn't be in here."
"They're not coming back tonight. I overheard Chance say they have business in Crimson Falls and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."
"Cool, but you still gotta go."
"Why?"
My eyes frantically searched for his under the glow of the moon. It spilled through the window, bathing his face in its glimmer but never touching his eyes. Dark, detached, and lifeless, they tore into me, begging me to admit just how worthless he was.
"Navy," he groaned, rubbing his hand down his face.
"Don't do that! Don't call my name like I'm doing something wrong."
"You are Navy! You fucking are!"
"How? What am I doing wrong?" I yelled, refusing to back down.
"Every-fucking-thing! I shouldn't even be here. I didn't want to be here. I was straight with?—"
I rushed Honor, throwing my arms around him, disrupting his haunting thoughts.
"Don't say it," I mumbled into his chest. Honor had height, but so did I.
