Page 76 of Twisted Gift

“Aurora,” Tristan’s voice is nothing but a whisper. “Aurora, you’re safe, sweetheart.”

“She’s human,” Nikolai says, confusion clear in his voice.

“Shut up,” Skylar snaps at him.

Tristan brushes his thumb along my cheek, warming the skin as he heals the cuts and bruises on my face.

“Stop,” I choke out. He shouldn’t be making me feel better, not while Max is...

“What is it? Did I hurt you?” His eyes are filled with concern.

“Max,” I say, but my voice cracks, cutting off before I can say anything else.

“Where is he?” Oliver asks in a panicked tone.

My breath shudders, and I want to bury my face in Tristan’s chest again.

“Aurora, where the hell is he?” Skylar demands, stepping forward.

Nikolai angles his body toward her, watching her out of the corner of his eye.

“Rory?” Tristan murmurs. “What happened?”

I shake my head, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I’m sorry,” I cry. “I’m so sorry.”

Skylar snaps, heading toward Tristan and me. She makes it a few feet before Nikolai’s arm wraps around her waist and pulls her away, forcing her in the opposite direction.

“Get off of me,” she screams, pounding on his back with her fists.

He says nothing, no poorly timed witty remark or sleazy innuendo he’s famous for. He just carries her away while she beats the crap out of him. A door slams in the distance, and Skylar continues to scream.

Allison manages to guide a crying and confused Oliver out of the room as well, leaving Tristan and me alone.

“Tristan,” I say, my heart breaking at the hopeless, faraway look in his eyes.

He blinks, and his gaze focuses on me. “Let me heal you.”

I shake my head. “It can wait. He’s... I brought him here.”

Tristan’s throat bobs when he swallows. He bows his head, and I don’t hesitate in pulling him toward me, holding him to me.

Tears slip down my cheeks as Tristan’s chest rises and falls awkwardly against me. “Shh,” I whisper, rubbing his back to try to soothe him. “Breathe, Tris. Just breathe.”

We stay like that for a few minutes until his breathing evens out.

“There’s something else,” I say.

He lifts his head until his eyes are level with mine.

“The woman who changed me back. She’s in the car, too. Alive, but unconscious.”

Tristan exhales a heavy sigh and nods. He traces his fingers along my arm and shoulder, healing the wound there. I stop him before he does any more. The aches and pains I can handle.

We stand and walk to the elevator. Tristan gets on his phone and calls security—a team of light and dark fae now—to meet us in the parking lot.

They deal with getting Richelle into the building. Tristan informs them to lock her up, that she’ll be dealt with later. Once they’re gone, Tristan opens the passenger side door and sucks in a breath.

I watch with tears in my eyes as Tristan pushes the hair away from Max’s face and then presses his palm against his unmoving chest, over his heart.

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