And that’s when it hits me.
They don’t want me safe.
Their concern has nothing to do with me, not really. It’s the same protection they offered Evie, and all the girls that died at the Syndicate’s hand.Stay pretty, stay quiet, stay useful.That’s all they’ve ever asked.
And I’m done.
I turn slowly to face Valen. “You think they’re using me? Maybe they are. But at least they aren’t afraid of my sharp edges.”
Milo tries to speak, but I steamroll through it. “You three spent your whole life calling it love while cutting me down to size, and now that I’ve grown teeth, you’re scared I’ll bite. You say they’ll kill me if they’re told to, but Milo dressed me up for slaughter. Do you truly thinkthey’rethe monsters?”
I tilt my head. “I know monsters, Valen.”
And I choose mine.
Valen steps closer, until the only thing between us is a single armchair. He lifts a pistol from behind him until it’s inches from me.
Kade freezes to my right. “Valen. Don’t.”
“Stay out of it, Kade,” Milo says, his voice low.
The muzzle stares at my chest and I inhale slowly, meeting Valen’s eyes like we’re kids again, sitting on the benches at Chapel Stone Preparatory Academy.
“You’re not going to shoot me. You kissed me when we were thirteen. Remember that? Behind the girls dormitory. You were shaking so hard, thinking you were going to fuck it up.”
His jaw tightens.
“You’ve been angry ever since,” I add, stepping toward the gun. Just one inch. Just enough. “Because they didn’t choose you for me.”
Valen’s face shutters as he cocks the gun.
Then he fires.
The blast rips past my ear, shattering the lamp beside the desk. I don’t flinch, but Kade curses, stumbling back. Milo’s chair scrapes along the floor as he moves away from the glass, but doesn’t step in.
Valen doesn’t move the gun, which is now pressed to my forehead.
“You think pointing a gun at me makes you noble? Makes you the better choice?”
“I think you’re confused,” Valen snarls, “and they’re using you—Dredyn, Talon, Jasper. You’re just a game to them.”
My heart thunders in my chest, but I stand my ground. “I’m not staying. I’m walking out that door, right now.” My declaration hangs in the air, heavier than I expected.
“You really want to die?”
The corner of my mouth tilts up in a cruel smile as I grip the hidden knife strapped to my thigh. “I decided that a while ago,” I whisper. And there’s a moment of absolute quiet in the room, broken only by my heartbeat.
Suddenly, the front door slams open, and I whip my head around.
Jasper stands tall, just inside the entryway. He’s in black from head to toe, eyes dark. My heart leaps at the sight of him.
“How the hell did you—” Milo’s mouth hangs open, words caught in his throat.
Jasper steps forward and I move to him on instinct. My hand finds the front of his coat, clutching tight.
Milo surges from behind the desk, fury rising, but Jasper doesn’t even blink. He lifts a hand, and Milo halts like a puppet with cut strings.
Then I kiss Jasper, devouring him. His mouth claims me back with a growl low in his throat, his hands anchoring at my waist. His lips taste like vengeance.
