“I—”
“I promise I won’t try to run away again. I understand the seriousness of the situation. But I deserve to have my life back after it’s done.”
I let my gaze roam around the room, taking in how simple and spartan it is. I know a lot of people would argue that this is poverty, but I can feel that to Trina, it’s simply all she needs, and it means a lot to her.
There’s still one big, huge problem.
“Trina,” I sigh. “I’m getting the feeling Sadie didn’t tell you everything.”
“What do you mean?” she asks, watching me with wary eyes. Her body is poised as if she’s about to run again, regardless of what she just said.
“Did Sadie tell you what the deciding factor was in healing the Silver Valley pack?”
“Their marriage,” Trina responds, her brow knitting in confusion. “I don’t know, something about her magic, and their union… what exactly are you getting at?”
“Sex,” I say.
Her face colors red again, and this time, I watch the red flush creep across her cheeks as the sapphire and emerald in her eyes flash in time with her fury.
“What the fuck,” she growls. “What did you just say to me?”
“Things didn’t start to unfold for Sadie and Rhys until after they had sex.”
“Didn’t they have sex years ago to make Cassie?” she counters.
I shake my head. “That was before the ceremony and the ritual. It was the consummation of that bond that unlocked Sadie’s powers and healing for the pack.”
Trina stares at me, her cheeks still flushed red, but the rest of her face paling. “Do you really think I’m going to believe that?” she asks softly. “Is that the best you can do to try and wrangle sex from me?”
“I’m not trying to,” I sigh, putting my face in my palm. “Seriously. Ask Sadie.”
“Oh, I will. This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, and I can’t wait to hear Sadie laugh this off and call it bullshit.”
“It’s not.”
“We’ll see,” Trina says. “But if it turns out sex is what’s needed to heal your people, we'd better find another solution, because I’ll make damn sure you never use my body for your gain.”
“It isn’t like that—” I begin, then stop, trying to find something meaningful to say that will reassure her.
This must have come off as the clumsiest pass in history, I think with regret.
“I can see exactly how it is,” Trina says, turning to go back down the hall. “I’m going to finish packing. You rack your brain searching for another solution, because you’re not getting into my fucking pants—no fucking way.”
I watch her go, not knowing if I want to scream at the top of my lungs, cursing her name—or if I want to kiss her so hard and deep, it changes her mind.
Chapter 6 - Trina
On the way back to Owen’s place, we don’t talk, and the silence seems somehow deeper than it had been previously. The resentment I feel at Owen’s suggestion grates on me, making me angrier by the second, and his reaction to it is far worse.
When I denied that sex would ever happen between us, he seemed to think it was a joke, and then he passed straight into disbelief. As he was helping me pack the car, I got the sense he wanted to kiss me, which made me put a ton of distance between us.
And that just pissed him off even more. He’s trying to look totally chill, but those little glances he keeps throwing my way are full of suggestion.
The awkwardness hits sky-high when we pull up into his driveway. I try to get my bags, and he tries to help me. We both dive into the back seat at the same time, almost knocking heads.
“I don’t need your help!” I growl, struggling with the bag.
“Clearly, you do,” he replies, his voice maddeningly even.
