Page 81 of Curse of Thorns
I sniff, pushing the wave of sorrow back down to the depths of my shattered soul. “And how do you explain me saving you inside the forest of desires? How does that fit into your narrative?”
He grunts.
“Your father has made a deal with the Night Bringer.” I shrug. “They both want you dead. There’s something here they want. Somethinghewants. And they need me to get it. The plan was to kill you within these walls, and then I would be next in line to enter.”
“So, they want you here and your idea is... to come anyway?”
“It was that or leave you to death. I assume we’ll both have a better chance if we work together.”
“We are not partners, shadow fae. We are not allies. We will not be working together.”
I bit the inside of my lip, frustration filling to overflowing. “Then, leave me behind,” I say low and slow. “And when you get into trouble, I’ll be there to pull you out. Then, you’ll be free to continue hating me. It’s a vicious cycle. But I suppose it’s what we’re best at.”
I’m good at pushing people away. Rev is good at anger and lying to himself.
Rev
Ishould sleep, butmy mind rebels against even the thought. I twist and turn, muscles aching, and mind whirling.
Caelynn is here.
That thought sends a sharp ache through my heart. She’s here, and she’ll never leave.
As much as I try to convince myself that I hate her, I know it isn’t true. Not entirely. I’m so angry with her, and I can’t see through the rage sometimes. And then, other times, I’m hypnotized by her strength, her bravery, and selflessness. I’m lost in the way she looks at me.
It kills me to think I’ll have to leave her here. This hellish place that will fill my nightmares for life. She’ll be living it. Forever.
She’ll never escape this evil place. Because of me.
She came to protectme.
I shake my head, trying to figure her out. No matter what kind of scum lies over her heart, she loves me—I think that much I can justify. Her heart and soul are so smothered in pain and trauma it’s consumed her.
I loved it, she said about killing my brother. I press my eyes closed tightly as a fresh wave of pain hits me. It wouldn’t hurt this bad if...
It shouldn’t hurt this bad.
