“Like I said, that’s between you and her.”
Fox hums and goes silent before saying, “Gideon is heading the prosecution against me.”
I squeeze my eyes closed. How did our paths converge in this massive world of seven billion people? “I know.”
“And he knows you are with me.”
“Again, I know. For what it’s worth, I still think we should have all split up.”
He frowns and casts a glance my way. “You have faced this alone for long enough. Running isn’t living, Honor. We take a stand, and when the dust has settled, you can dance in the rain every day with your head thrown back as you laugh at the gods.”
“I’m afraid,” I whisper, lowering my head.
His hand lands on my jean-covered thigh and squeezes. “I know, firecracker, but facing your fears is easier when someone is at your side.”
I reach my hand out to cover his. “He’s a disease. He won’t stop until I’m under his control or dead. Those are the only two options.”
“Wrong. The third is he dies. That is the only acceptable outcome.”
I suck in a breath as I watch the fields fly by. “I find myself wondering what evil I must contain to have ended up with someone like Gideon.”
He slams on the break, and the car skids to an abrupt stop. Duke grumbles in the back seat as he slides around.
Fox wraps a hand around the back of my neck and turns my head to face him. “He was attracted to your light, Honor. Men like him enjoy the challenge of snuffing it out.”
“We all have a little darkness.”
“He isn’t darkness, he’s emptiness. There’s a difference.” He drags me toward him and kisses me deeply. I hiss as his fingers skim the egg-shaped lump on the back of my head. He jerks away. “Are you injured?”
“I have two lovely lumps on the back of my head.”
He frowns. “Any dizziness? Tiredness?”
I slant a look at him. “I’ve been awake all night, terrorized, and now I’m on the run. I haven’t eaten since yesterday. I’d be more worried if I wasn’t feeling those things.”
“We will stop at the gas station. I need to refuel anyway, so you can grab snacks and drinks.”
“Gas station snacks? You? Mr. Health Conscious?”
“It’s not my preference, but until we get further away, I don’t want to stop for too long.” He puts the car into drive, and we are off again, hurtling toward a future I don’t dare to dream is true.
I drag my bottom lip between my teeth.
“What’s on your mind?” Fox asks, reading me perfectly as usual.
“Who is she? The woman accusing you?”
He squints at the road like he’s picking through his words carefully. “She was my employer, an actress.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing important.”
“Fox.”
“Honor.”
“If we are to trust each other, then we have to speak the truth. No knocking the edges off.”
