Page 83 of Forged in Rain

Slowly I come to. I’m no longer in Cyn’s lap, and it sounds as though they’re behind me at the table behind the couch.

“I don’t know, but Veah . . .”

My heart clenches at the tortured sound of Cyn’s voice, and I close my eyes. The reality is that Veah is more important, even than me. I know this, but it’s still eating at my soul.

I wouldn’t blame him if he picked me up and dropped me at Pam’s right now. How could he not? That’s his sister.

“Bro, we’ll figure something out,” Jig says in a low rumble.

“We just need a little time,” Bastion agrees.

There’s an extended pause where my mind races for answers that don’t include me losing the only people I trust before Cyn says heavily, “Yeah. But I don’t think we have it.”

∞∞∞

“Whatever happens, I understand,” I say quietly.

We’re sitting in the SUV in front of Pam’s house, staring at the facade. Cyn’s still broody, his brows perpetually low over his eyes. He’s spent the better part of today watching me with his glittering gaze.

This morning, he woke me with a ferocity that brought tears to my eyes.

Rolling me over, he slid between my thighs and entered me slowly, his mouth pulled back in a pained grimace. Pulsing with need, I bucked into him gently and whispered his name.

His eyes flew to mine, the pretty irises blighted by darkness before he pushed my legs further apart and surged into me. All the while, he stared at me with a blankness that hurt my soul, but I smoothed my features into a smile and met his desperate thrusts with my own.

We came together with a gentle wave, and after, he retreated into his shell, leaving me bereft and really fucking scared.

“Beauty,” he says in a strangled voice.

Turning to him, I reach out to touch his arm but drop my hand sadly when he pulls away. He’s already preparing for what we both know is coming. I just wish he would give me this little bit of him before our time is gone.

“Just know, I get it,” I say, my voice breaking. I go to open the door, and he grabs my arm.

“You just know that I won’t fucking give up. Ever.”

Searching his determined gaze, I nod slowly, fighting back the tears when he kisses the palm of my hand. After, he nods, and we exit the vehicle, heading toward the door with matching grim expressions.

Pam opens it before we reach the threshold, glancing between us with a coolness I’ve never seen on her face before. She says nothing as we enter, stepping back to allow us through the door.

Iris stands at the entrance to the kitchen with a blank expression. She’s missing her typical attire of slutty dress and dark makeup. The change is almost startling as she stands before us in sweats with no makeup and her hair pulled back in a messy bun.

We follow Pam into the dining room and sit at the table where a meatloaf sits with baked potatoes and green beans.

A bubble of hysteria rises on my tongue at the sight, but I choke it back as Cyn grabs my hand beneath the table and squeezes. Exhaling slowly, I watch with my heart in my throat when Pam sits at the head of the table and Iris across from us.

I’m not the least bit hungry. My stomach is roiling so severely that I’m actually afraid I might vomit, but I perform when Pam passes the dishes around, filling my plate with food.

Which I proceed to push around my plate as Pam eats and Cyn pretends to. Iris doesn’t even bother to pick up her utensils, and despite her treachery, I feel a pulse of worry at her blank state.

Finally, when I can take it no more, Pam wipes her mouth and sets the napkin by her plate. “You’ve been to see your father then, Callahan?”

Cyn looks at her coolly but nods.

“Good. You understand?”

Glancing between them with a frown, my stomach surges when Cyn avoids my gaze and nods again.

Pam looks at me with a slight frown, glancing over my features before sighing. “Very well. Rainy, I expect you’ll fall in line. No more disappearing with this one.”

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