Page 76 of Shadows of Nightshade
“Okay.” I understood that he believed this, but who knew what the future held? Where there was a will, there’s a way.
Miles narrowed his eyes. “Why do I feel you don’t actually understand?”
“I don’t know,” I answered. How was I supposed to know how his mind worked? Only he could answer that question. “Why do you feel that?”
I was somewhat curious to know.
He looked at me before his shoulders slumped, and he sighed. “I’m too tired to think.”
He was kind of cute, all disheveled and confused. When he was this vulnerable, it was easy to ignore the rest of the world and focus on him. His arm brushed against mine, and my heart began to beat a little faster.
There was something horrifying beginning to curl in my stomach.
I could never let him know. Even acknowledging such feelings was unsafe.
“You can wait here.” Miles pointed to a folding chair. He’d led me away from the crowd, toward a handful of onlookers at the edge of the field. Besides us, there were three other girls present. “I’m not going to be able to watch you every second—”
I groaned. I didn’t need to be watchedevery second. After all, I’d made it up this accursed mountain on my own, all while carrying luggage and a backpack. I was dependable.
“—but I did just hear from Julian,” Miles said. His mouth twisted in unease. “We haven’t spoken to Finn yet. I believe he might try to reach out to you. Do you remember the plan?”
I rolled my eyes. I’d already gone over the plan multiple times today.
“Just humor me.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. I was shivering from the cold, and he frowned as he looked into my face. “I want to know if you’re prepared.”
He was such a worrier.
Suddenly, Miles released me before he pulled off his sweatshirt. Without warning he pulled the garment over my head, messing up my hair in the process.
“Miles!” I gasped as he manhandled my arms through the shirt. He’d been running around in this thing; surely, it was covered in man sweat.
Yet, I was warmer. But would he survive? Now he only had an ugly brown T-shirt.
“The plan.” He ignored my protests as he rolled up the sleeves to my wrists. “What was it?”
So that’s how it was going to be?
I pursed my lips and repeated the well-rehearsed instructions—with modifications, of course. I’d had plenty of time to think and perfect the details. “I should stay somewhere public, or close to one of you, at any given moment. However, if Finn is still able to find me alone, I should disregard everything and everyone and beat in his face. Then, when he’s quivering on the ground in pain and humiliation, I should kick him in the balls.”
This was, in my humble opinion, an improvement from running away.
However, Miles did not appear to believe so. He frowned. “That’s not the plan.”
“It should be,” I muttered, glaring over his shoulder.
I thought I’d spoken too low for Miles to hear, but he picked up on it. “That’s actually a tiny bit scary,” he said.
My face burned with shame. Why, oh why, did I allow the most impure aspects of my nature to escape? I should have just kept my mouth shut.
Surely, he was aghast.
“Although,” Miles mused, “Julian and Titus might agree with your changes—Julian especially. He can hold a grudge forever. Damen might also enjoy violence, but he tends to be more patient with Finn. Before going nuclear, Damen and I both have a few questions first.”
Did that mean… Julian and Titus would do it then?
That was hard to believe; Julian was so gentle. And, on another note, since when did Damen have a temper?
“Stop plotting Finn’s death.” Miles was still judging me.
