Page 115 of Thorns of Malice
He recovers and looks at me, placing his hand on my arm, repeating, "Let's go, Ivy."
"I'm not going with you," I reiterate.
"You are."
"No, I'm not."
"Get your hand off her," Dax threatens again.
"Stay out of this," I warn him.
Jaxon takes his fist and slams it into Dax's face. His head jerks toward the wall.
"Jaxon, what the fuck?" I step between them.
Dax slowly glances back at Jaxon, with his hand on his cheek.
"Please. Don't," I beg Dax, afraid he'll retaliate.
Jaxon shakes his fist out, claiming, "We're leaving."
I put my hands in the air. "No. We. Aren't."
Dax steps closer to me. His face is already swelling. He points at Jaxon. "I'm giving you a final warning."
Jaxon steps closer.
I push at his chest, ordering, "Go."
He freezes, looking at me. "You don't mean that."
My eyes well up. I swallow hard, stating, "I do."
"You don't. You're coming with me," he insists.
A burst of anger blows through me. I'm tired of everyone telling me what to do. This is my life, and I get to make my own choices. I fume, "Did you not hear a word I said earlier?"
A look of hurt overtakes his features.
I feel horrible. Jaxon's been a good friend to me, but I don't love him, and I don't think he loves me either. He's just jonesing. Still, he's never said anything like that to me before. So I soften my tone when I say, "You don't mean what you said."
"I do," he insists.
"You don't, and I am not going with you. You need to leave."
"You heard her," Dax warns.
I spin to face him. "Shut up!"
He opens his mouth and then shuts it, grinding his molars.
I turn back toward Jaxon.
Dax slides his arm around my waist, tugging me into him.
My core dances with endorphins. I inhale sharply and can't push away from him.
Shock and disappointment fills his voice, "You don't know what you're doing, Ivy."
