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They look at me and Ezra’s expression hardens. “I decide where I go.”
“Sage.” he warns.
“If I stay here, this thing keeps pulling me apart every time Kai isn’t touching me.”
His jaw clenches. “We’ll find another way.”
“When?” I growl but they say nothing . “Exactly.” And still no one says a fucking thing because they know I’m right.
I look upstairs. Mariah and Ali are safe for now. So I take a deep breath, then look at the window. I narrow my eyes. What the fuck? The red ribbon is gone and something is waiting just beyond the glass. I can’t see it but I can fucking feel it. And beneath all the fear… I want to understand and that may be fucking stupid… no it definitely is but I’ve made worse decisions… not many… but definitely some.
I glance over at Malakai who is already looking at me. “If I go out there, will you stay with me?”
“Yes.” He says immediately.
“No disappearing.”
“No.” He shakes his head.
“No creepy riddles.”
He hesitates.
“Kai.”
“I’ll try.”
“That’s the best I’m getting, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
Ezra grabs my arm. Not hard. Just desperate—almost pleading. “No. Please just stay inside.” He begs as I look down at his hand then at him. There’s fear on his face again but it’s not for himself. It’s for me… and that softens something in my chest.
“I’ll come back.” I say, giving him a small smile.
He steps into my space, his fingers loosen a bit. “You don’t know that.”
Neither of us speaks because he’s right. So I cover his hand with mine and his entire body stills.
Shit. There it is again. That heat. It’s different from Malakai and Rhett. It’s sharper… almost painful.
He inhales then his eyes drop to our hands, then the floor trembles causing him to jerk away.
“Don’t.” he warns.
I stare at him. That wasn’t disgust. That was fear… of wanting me.
Interesting. Very fucking interesting.
I will file that away for later because if I survive tonight, I’m going to make that man’s life extremely difficult.
Rhett opens the door and cold air rushes inside. “Ready?”
“No.” I say but step onto the porch anyway with Malakai hot on my heels. Ezra swears but follows too, making Rhett grin like a maniac.
Of course he comes. Apparently nobody understands the concept of staying behind.
