Page 261 of Fangs
“I know you’re not dumb! I’m saying sometimes I thinkgoodscares you, so you run away to what’sfamiliar,which is someone who’s gonna treat you like shit!”
A bitter laugh escaped my mouth. “Oh, so you think I’m broken.”
“Ember!” he growled. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Is that how you see me? As someone so damaged you have to step in andprotectme from myself?”
“If you’re askin’ me to stop trying to protect you, that’s not somethin’ I can do.” He took a step closer, eyes glinting.
“I killed over a dozen Voiceless by myself,” I shot back. “I don’t need your protection.”
“And you’ve had fuckin’ nightmares about it every single night since then!”
I snapped my jaw shut, panic creeping over me. Did he see my dreams?
“Yes,” his voice lowered, and his dark tone made my skin prickle. “I am seein’ your dreams. I have them with you every damn night.”
I could only stare at him in horror.
“I know what kind of nightmares you’re having, Ember.” He stepped closer and leaned down to brace his hand on the table by my plate. His face was so close to mine, the golden specks in his eyes glowing. “I see the things they do to you in your dreams. I see the Voiceless stalk you, hurt you, violate you, and I’m fuckin’helplessto do a thing about it. But I also know your worst nightmares aren’t about whattheydid toyou.”
“Stop,” I whispered.
“The ones that scare you the most, make you sick, and keep you awake at night? Those are the dreams about whatyoudid tothem.”
I sucked in a ragged breath, my hands clenching in my lap.
“Iknowyou can protect yourself,” he said quietly, his eyes searching mine. “But I also know itkillsyou to have to hurt people. Even people who are fuckin’ monsters, who aretorturingyou. So if I can be your sword, I’m gonna fuckin’ do it. If I can kill the monsters for you so you don’t have to carry that burden, I will.”
My fingernails dug into my palms, but my mouth didn’t move. Tears ached in my throat, but they weren’t from anger now.
“Trey made me swear to watch over you if something happened to him, and I will die before I break that oath.”
The pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I wasn’t sure why those words hurt so badly, but I was speaking before I could think. “So that’s why you’ve done everything? Because you promised Trey?” My voice shook. “I’m just ajobfor you? Ataskthat Trey saddled you with?”
“No!” His voice rang out angrily, and his hand moved toward me at the same time.
I flinched instinctively, and he recoiled, pain and horror washing over his face.
“Em,” he said with urgency, “it’s me. You know I’d never hit you, right?”
I stared hard at the floor. I hated feeling so off-balance with him. The ground I’d established as steady was shaking, and I didn’t know how to fix it.
“Ember,” his voice was fierce. “Look at me.”
I couldn’t. I couldn’t because I would fall apart if I looked at him.
Slowly, he lowered himself until he was on one knee by my chair. His hands moved toward me slowly, and he gently took my face and tilted it up to meet his eyes. I’d never seen the ocean, but I imagined it would look like his eyes—roiling and dangerous.
“I can’t promise that I will never hurt you because I’m a fuckin’ asshole, but I can promise that I willneverhit you. It doesn’t matter how angry I am. I willneverfuckin’ hit you.”
I pressed my trembling lips together.
“I don’t care if you never believe anything else I say, but please believe this.” The pain in his eyes was deep. “I’ve done everything because youmeansomething to me. I swore that oath to Trey because I would’ve fuckin’ done it anyway, even if he didn’t ask, and he knew that. He wouldn’t have asked if he thought otherwise.”
I stared at those stormy grey eyes, and it felt like my golden powers were filling that empty hole in my chest. His thumbs stroked my cheeks, and I shivered.
“I don’t think you understand, Em. I will do anything for you,” his voice was just above a whisper. “Anything. Not because of Trey. Because it’s you.”
