I sit in my office chair, clutching my chest with one hand and stroking the top of Cerberus’ furry head with the other.
It’s been an hour since that bloody kiss—well, it was more than a kiss, and I can’t stop thinking about it. In fact, the more I think about it, the more pain it causes me. I want to be back in that room. I want to kiss her again. I want to bury myself so deep inside her that it eases the pain, but I can’t do that.
She doesn’t belong here, and she doesn’t belong to me. She almost died because of me, so she can’t stay. If she leaves, then maybe the urges won’t be so intense. Manx said the Tether is getting stronger the more we’re around one another, and I realize whatever he gave me is wearing off because more black veins have appeared across my ribcage and are running farther up my neck.
My eyes move to the gun on the desk. The silver glimmers from the light pouring through the window, despite it being a cloudy day. I release my chest to pick up the gun and weigh it in my hand.
The reminder of being around that fighting ring eats at me. The metal cage. The whistles. The people shouting. The sweat and blood and anger. I sit back with the gun, close my eyes, and bring it to my temple.
Not my enemy, my friend.
“What are you doing?” The voice fills the room, and I open my eyes to find Willow standing on the other side of the office. She’s dressed casually, black jeans and an oversized T-shirt. Her hair has been pulled up into a ponytail, the ends sprouting out like individual flower stems. Her brown eyes swim with concern, and she looks from me to the gun. I lower it, placing it back on the desk. Cerberus stands and walks to Willow to sniff her, before turning away and leaving the room.
“Nothing.”
“Why were you pointing that at your head?”
“Are you ready to go home?” I counter.
She shifts on her feet. “I’m hungry.”
“Della is in the kitchen.”
She frowns, lowering her line of vision to the gun again, before locking on my eyes. “Where’s Silvera?”
“She’s outside, roaming the forest. Probably hunting.”
Willow nods, and after giving me one more concerned onceover, she turns from the door and walks away. I sit back, blowing out a breath and closing my eyes. When I start to get up from my chair, my transmitter illuminates on the desk.
“Council. Council.” The transmitter repeats the name of the people trying to contact me.
Shit. I knew this would come. I just didn’t think it’d be so soon.
