Page 50 of Twisted Fate

I can still feel the light amusement coursing through him. My eyes flicker across his face as his emotions become more subdued.

His eyes narrow a fraction. “I think that’s enough for now.”

I arch a brow. “Says the guy that’s been able to read my emotions since day one. Sucks to be on the other side, doesn’t it?”

He chuckles. “If you’d like to know what I’m feeling, Aurora, I have no problem sharing that with you.”

I shake my head. “This is too weird.”

“Does the connection bother you?”

“Not right now.” I purse my lips. “How long is this going to last?”

He shrugs. “This isn’t something I’ve experienced before. A human being able to feel what I’m feeling. It’s as new to me as it is to you, I’m afraid.”

I release a breath and shoot him a smile. “Lucky us.”

He tweaks my chin. “Look at it this way. At least you’re not stuck feeling Max’s emotions. He tends to keep them locked up tight, but depending on the day, when he makes them known, it’s no fun for anyone.”

I groan. The thought of being connected to Max makes me shudder. “Ugh, I hate when you’re right.”

His laugh is a deep sound that booms throughout the room. It’s genuine. I know that with a fresh certainty I feel in my chest. This reading emotions thing could get dangerous.

I glance over at his desk. “What are you doing up so late?”

His eyes flicker across my face in the dim light. “I spoke to Allison while you were asleep. She knows you’re okay. I don’t take what happened tonight lightly. I will find out who is behind this, and there will be consequences.” The tang of anger radiating from him makes me frown. I miss the light emotions he was giving off a few minutes ago.

“You think it was one of your fae?” I ask, masking my surprise at his reaction to the situation. I’m not fae—not his to protect.

“No, I know it wasn’t.”

“Then I’m not sure why you think—”

His anger rises, but his calm and collected expression holds. If I weren’t privy to his emotions, I wouldn’t notice the shift. “They won’t get away with harming you, Aurora. Whoever ordered this action knows you’re significant. That’s why it happened.”

I swallow. “I don’t understand why.”

“Don’t be naive.” His breath tickles my cheek, a reminder of how close he is. “You know I care about you.” The worry and attraction swirling inside him become muddled, making my head spin. I need to figure out a way to turn this off.

Swallowing, I say, “I’m not naive. I knew there was something, or you would’ve figured out another way to approach the situation after you couldn’t wipe my memories.” I shrug, still pretty drowsy. “And I—” I clamp my mouth shut before I say anything. I’m not sure what I was going to say, considering my mind is still caught on the wholeI care about youthing. “I understand,” I say. If I can feelhisemotions right now, he can feel mine. I don’t have to to say it back.

“Good.”

I shake my head. “Not good.” My throat tingles as if I’m going to hurl. My stomach feels heavy, and my pulse is uneven. “Someone wants me dead.” The words have to fight to make it through the chattering of my teeth. Clenching my jaw to try to make it stop, I watch Tristan’s eyes focus on my face.

“Aurora, you’re okay.”

My eyes sting as I hold back tears, gripping the blanket around me tighter. It’s all too much. I can feel my heartbeat in my throat as black spots dance across my line of sight, and my ears ring. The light fae want to kill me; Tristan is acting...not like the Tristan I’ve come to tolerate; Allison is putting herself in danger; my brother has cancer again, and I can’t even think about school.

“Hey.” His smooth, certain voice brings me back from the edge. His hand is on my shoulder. “Breathe.”

I stare at him, and he nods.

“Take a deep breath for me, Rory.”

Rory. I say it over in my head. That’s new.

I inhale, and all I can smell ishim. Fresh, warm...comforting.

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