Page 59 of Twisted Devotion
“Jax . . .”
“It’s in three days, Kelsey.”
My stomach drops as panic clamps down hard on my chest. “No.” I shake my head. “That’s—it’s too soon.”
“I know you’re worried. Seth does, too. He doesn’t want you to be afraid. But he also doesn’t want to have to feed anymore, so the sooner we do the procedure the better it is for him. For his quality of life.”
I grip the cushion so hard I’m a little surprised the material doesn’t rip. “He’s staying at the Westbrook?” I assumed Tristan would put him up.
“Yes.”
I stand and head for the front door. “I need the rest of the day off.”
“No.”
I freeze in the doorway to the foyer, slowly turning toward him. “What do you meanno?”
Jackson sighs, standing and walking around the couch. “What are you going to do, Red? Try to convince him not to go through with it?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“It’s too late for that. This is what he wants,” he states.
I cross my arms over my chest. “What are you, his spokesperson? I want to hear this from him.”
Jackson wets his lips and levels his gaze on me. “You’ll only hurt him if you do what you want to do right now.”
I squeeze my eyes shut to keep from crying. “I can’t do this,” I finally say, my arms falling to my sides. “I’m trying so hard to be supportive of what he wants, but I can’t do it.”
Apparently, I don’t hear Jackson approach, because the next time he speaks, his voice is close to my ear. “You’re afraid,” he murmurs in a hypnotic voice. “Tell me why.”
My eyes fly open, immediately captured by his gaze. “Are you . . . ? You can’t compel me, Jax.”
He lifts his arm and grazes my neck with his fingers, his eyes never leaving mine. His thumb slides along my jaw, holding me in place. “Talk to me, Red.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course, it does.” He uses his other hand to tug on one of my curls, pulling it straight and letting it bounce back. “Tell me,” he repeats, his tone deeper now.
Exhaling a shaky breath, I express my fear. “I’m terrified he won’t survive the transition.”
Jackson surprises me by smiling. “That’s completely normal, and you know that. You know what we tell clients’ family members.”
“Yeah,” I say, “but this is different.”
He arches a brow. “Why?”
“Because I never thought I’d have to feel the fear I see on their faces and stand by and do nothing butbe supportive. It’s so hard.”
Jackson nods, his expression thoughtful and filled with understanding. “It is. But you have to, Red. You have to feel the fear. Feel the fear and endure it anyway.”
18
Three days later, I’m sitting beside my best friend while he’s prepped for the procedure. The procedure that will change his life—and form of life—forever.
“Please breathe, Kelsey,” Seth says, sitting up in the small bed. “You are making me nervous.”
I release a breath. “Sorry.”
