Page 27 of Born Chaos

It’s quiet inside. And as I look around the space, I realize that it no longer feels like home. It no longer feels like the sanctuary where I reclaimed my new life. It feels like… an observation box.

In the bathroom, I do my hair. I sweep it back, twisting it into a simple chignon. I do my makeup simple, except for my eyes, which I do dark and smokey. I don some diamond earrings Elena bought me last summer.

And finally, I turn to the dress hanging on the back of the door.

It feels ironic. A white dress for a day like today. A dress that I felt so beautiful in on a day that’s become so ugly.

I slip into it, managing to zip myself into the soft fabric. And just then, there’s a knock on the door, just a half-second before I hear it pushed open.

I thought I was calm. I thought I was composed. I thought I was going to be able to do this without any fear or anxiety.

But my heart starts beating double-time. My hands roll into fists. Every single muscle in my body tenses.

“Juliet,” I hear Sebastian call. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I know I was supposed to be here an hour ago. I got hung up at the hospital with all the lab work from our patients today.”

I step out of the bathroom, cross through the bedroom, and then into the living room.

Sebastian is pulling a bag of blood from the overly stocked fridge. He bites into it with his back still turned to me, drinking the entire thing down in three long pulls. He tosses the emptied bag into the trash and turns to face me.

“You look beautiful,” he says with a breathy smile. His eyes rise from bottom to top, drinking every bit of me in. And then his eyes come to mine, and his smile slackens. “What’s wrong?”

I stand there, taking slow breaths in and out, holding his gaze.

Before the next summer solstice, you will hate the man you love most.Archer King’s words echo through my brain. They resound in a maddening chorus that vibrates right down to my core.

We bend. We break.

Relationships are about give and take. They’re about sacrifice.

But sometimes too far is too far.

“You paid Rick to follow me,” I say. I wanted the words to come out calmly, but they hold a cold, bitter edge to them.

And I watch as the color drains from Sebastian’s face. He swallows once and remains rooted in place, staring at me without saying a word.

“He was always there, never far away, watching my every movement,” I say. My words come out in an accusing whisper. “For weeks. Even after we talked. After we tried to make things better. But you…” I shake my head, and bile rises in my throat. “You made it so much worse. You lost every bit of trust in me, and you had your man follow me.”

“Juliet, I—” Sebastian tries to speak, a pained expression on his face.

“You invaded my privacy,” I say, my words growing just a little louder. I take a step forward. “I’m an adult, Sebastian. I am my own damn person.”

“I know that,” he tries to say lamely.

I shake my head. “I’m not your child. You don’t get to control where I go or what I do. And I’m not your property.”

“I know,” he says. I see the panic rising in his eyes. He’s been caught. And while it was bad before, this is so, so much worse.

“You don’t!” I snap. My eyes widen and my heart feels like it’s in my throat. “You really don’t, Sebastian. You say you love me, but then you go and pay someone to stalk me twenty-four-seven. That’s not love. That’s obsession.”

“Don’t you say that,” he retorts, the look in his eyes and the sharpness in his voice hardening. “You have no idea how much I love you. I’d do anything for you, Juliet.”

“Anything but let me have my freedom or my privacy,” I bite.

“I can’t lose you, Juliet!” he suddenly barks out, his eyes igniting with red embers. “I can’t lose you, and you keep insisting on doing all of this insane, dangerous shit. I already lost one woman I loved. I will not let it happen again.”

“I thought that was what keeping the necromancer alive was all about,” I quip as I fold my arms over my chest.

Sebastian closes his mouth, grinding his teeth. He’s been called out on his bullshit. And I’m not backing down.

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