The world is so quiet when I’m wrapped in his scent, his warmth.
I ignore the fact that Wolvrin can still see. That the SUV is still parked behind us as Bella steps out. PX-3 would play along, I’m just playing my part.
You’re being watched. The warning fills my ears, sending a fresh wave of dread over me. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him in closer. “Cayden.”
“I’m here, beautiful.”
His scent, musk and something uniquely Cayden, fills my senses, and my body instantly relaxes. My heart instantly calms from the race it’s been in all afternoon. Play the part until you’re alone, Darlia.
But I’m not so convinced I’m playing anything anymore. As much as I keep telling myself I don’t want this, I also don’t mind being this close to Cayden.
“So, where are we going?” I pull away just far enough to look up at Cayden. He looks so calm right now, a version of him I’ve never seen before. It’s beautiful.
“You’ll see, love.”
Taking the bag from my shoulders and throwing it over his own, Cayden takes my hand and leads me inside to the kitchen, Bella following behind us. He walks straight to the kitchen and makes me and Bella both a hot drink, something sweet I’ve never had before. It’s chocolatey and creamy, and absolutely delicious.
“This is so good, you need to keep your boyfriend,” Bella teases. She sits down at the table while I sit on the counter, Cayden watching my every move.
“Not my boyfriend.” But I would be lying if the title didn’t make me feel a strange twinge at my heart. Cayden, my Cayden, is making me feel things I never once imagined feeling. Safe.
“Not yet, darling.”
Fuck.
“Not at all,” I say quickly. Cayden doesn’t falter for a second. His dimples are on display as he looks at me; he’s always smiling when he looks at me. With my free hand, I trace the scar in his eyebrow, surprising myself with how gentle I am.
“It doesn’t hurt. It’s okay, love.”
“What happened?”
A brief moment of…something, flickers in his eyes. Almost looking pained before he takes a deep breath.
“Before the world went to shit, there used to be schools for everyone. Anyone could go anywhere, be anything. I went to one of the schools with my sister. One of the older kids was hurting her, so I stepped in. He had a knife I didn’t see, and cut me when I turned around.”
“How old were you?” My voice is barely a whisper as I register what he’s saying. The government took over fifteen years ago, and from my limited knowledge on the before, school started at five. He could’ve been just a baby.
“I was eight.” Twenty-three. Cayden is twenty-three.
“When’s your birthday?”
“October 10th.”
I nod, trying to process all this information. Cayden is four years older than me. He’s only just an adult, yet The Academy want him dead, or at least they will. And when the time comes, I know I will be the one forced to do it.
But can I? Will I still be able to do it when the time comes?
“What did you do, Cayden? Why do they want to know you so badly?”
He sighs, taking a step back and running a hand through his hair. Looking around the room, his eyes land on Marcus, who I didn’t even notice enter.
“Cayden, please tell me something, anything.”
But he shakes his head. His eyes meet mine, and I see the exhaustion in his eyes. He wants to tell me, but he’s scared. “I won’t tell you, but I’ll show you something. Then I’ll answer any questions you have.”
I can live with that.
“No more hiding?”
