Page 86 of Shackled to the World
Annora nodded, then braced herself and called upon the darkness until it filled her vision. She observed Logan and could easily see that his form was practically glowing.
He was healing.
Black welts and cruel marks were like shadows against the bright glow, and sorrow pierced her, knowing they were scars that would never heal. He hadn’t been able to heal fast enough, some of the injuries were just too deep, and she wished she could take his pain.
She blinked away the darkness, both relieved and saddened. “He won’t ever be the same.”
“He’ll be stronger.” Mason glanced at her from over his shoulder, then went back to driving. “That’s not a bad thing.”
Annora glared at him. “No one deserves what he went through.”
Mason shrugged, not bothering to look at her, avoiding her anger.
“He’s grown up since he met you.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel as they drove through campus. They were almost home. “This was a hard lesson for him to learn, but he’ll be stronger for it. He’ll understand you better and in a way that only someone who went through the same thing could.”
He drove the vehicle in the driveway, slipping it into park before turning to face her. “This will draw you closer together. He grew up very privileged. While he knew pain, he didn’t know true suffering. This will make him more alert to the dangers you face.”
Annora didn’t like it. “I stole the last of his innocence.”
Camden snorted, blocking her from reaching for the door and making her escape. “Logan was in no way innocent. He understood pain, grew up battling it every day of his life, but he’s never known the fear of caring what happens to anyone else but himself. Never known true sacrifice. He didn’t know what it meant to truly love someone else so completely that he would give his life for them. Until now.”
As the guys opened the doors, Annora didn’t move. “I never wanted that for him. Not because of me.”
“Don’t.” Xander paused halfway out the door and turned toward her. “Don’t diminish his sacrifice. Don’t treat him as if he’s broken. He did what he did out of love. Any of us, including you, would’ve traded spots with him in a heartbeat. Because of love. Don’t pull away from him because of your fear. What he needs most right now is just you. When he looks at you, he won’t see your uncle. He won’t feel the pain. He’ll see only you. The woman he loves. Unless you can’t let it go. If you hang on to your guilt, you’ll drown him with it.”
Then he jumped out of the vehicle and stormed toward the house.
Annora watched him go in shocked silence. He was so stoic, so contained, she struggled to understand him at times. She wanted to deny what he said, but the pain in his eyes was a living beast that was consuming him, and she knew he spoke from experience.
Edgar was the next to exit. He gave her a worried look, only to have Sadie mumble something and cuddle closer to him in a way that triggered a pang of searing jealousy. She crushed it ruthlessly. She would not take his choice away from him. If he wanted Sadie, she wouldn’t keep him from the woman he loved. His face shut down at whatever he saw when he looked at her, and he strode toward the house without speaking.
Mason shut his door, then came around back and gently lifted Logan out, as if the kitsune weighed no more than a kitten. She struggled with her guilt, not wanting to leave the comfort of Camden’s arms while she sorted through her conflicting emotions.
And came to one conclusion…Xander was right.
She had to let go of her anger, her fear, and her guilt.
She’d been living with them for so long, she wasn’t sure she knew how.
With a weary sigh, she made to stand, only to have Camden’s arms tighten around her. He pressed his head against her shoulder, so she couldn’t turn to face him. “Not yet. Please.”
“Camden?” She gripped his arm at his softly spoken plea, worry dousing her like a bucket of ice. “What’s wrong?”
Chapter Twenty-one
“You almost died!” Camden couldn’t hold back the roar. By the gods, he wanted to shake sense into her, but he didn’t think it would do any good. “We felt every blow, every cut, every bone crack and snap. We fucking felt your heart slow and nearly stop. Why the hell do you think Xander is so pissed?!”
He was breathing heavily at the end of his rant, but it did nothing to make him feel any better. He knew if it came down to the same choices, she’d do it again.
Because she loved them.
Fuck!How could that feel like both heaven and hell?
His hands shook, and he tightened his arms around her, pressing her closer, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to confirm with his own eyes that she was okay. Damn if his heart wasn’t thumping so hard it felt like it was trying to bash its way out of his chest.
Annora turned sideways on his lap, then held her arms out straight. “Go ahead. Look for yourself.”
He swallowed hard, searched her face for any reservations at the thought of him touching her.
