Page 162 of Fearless

Nothing is hitting him.

I let out a frustrated cry that he finds humorous. “Don’t hurt yourself, Paedyn. I know your every move.”

Of course he does.

Get. Out. Of. My. Head.

Calum chuckles again while dodging the next fist I send flying toward his face. My blood boils, staining my cheeks with heat. But my mind is clear, and I know he reads the thought that pounds through it.

There is no way in hell I am leaving this room with him.

He reads my only plan, blue eyes locked on mine and lips twitching into a smile.

I pause.

Maybe inside my head is exactly where he should be.

I take a slow step toward him.

You’re the failure. Not me.

Calum feigns boredom.

“Not only were you unable to kill an Ordinary baby, but you left me on Adam Gray’s doorstep so you could keep an eye on your daughter.” His eyes narrow as I advance slowly. “I’m right, aren’t I? A part of you wanted to watch me grow up. Every meeting, every conversation with my father, you were learning aboutme.”

I jab a finger toward the pile of books beside the bed. “You brought those to the house when I was a child, didn’t you? Even wrote my name in the covers. Because you cared forme—”

“Enough,” Calum drawls.

All your power, and you couldn’t even make an Elite.

“Pathetic.” I spit the word aloud, watching it hit him like a blow.

You blame me for Iris’s death, because you couldn’t do anything to save her.

One foot in front of the other.

I bet you couldn’t even hold her hand, couldn’t even say goodbye, with the king there.

My thoughts are sharp, cutting through the cool facade he wears with ease.

“Stop it,” he mumbles.

She was never yours, Calum.

Rage has his body trembling. “Stop.”

But I am. I will forever be your greatest failure.

I’m close enough now to see the tears glossing his gaze.

Do I look like her, Father? Do I haunt you?

Calum’s hands clamp atop his ears. “Enough!”

Look. At. Me.

His eyes squeeze shut, and that is when I strike.

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