Page 22 of Cage Me

“I was going to tell you that I’m sorry for,” her hand waves between us, “whatever this tension is. I don’t want to fight with you. I just want to keep my family safe. And the more we argue, the further I get from those goals. Maybe it’s better if we just part ways now.”

She wants to be done with me? Yeah, I don’t believe that for a second, not with the way her voice cracks at the end. She’s fighting a battle with herself over this bond, but I’m not willing to sit by and let the wrong choice win. There have been moments throughout the day when I’ve seen her question her stubbornness, a look in her eyes that doesn’t match the tone of her words, and that’s all the hope I need to continue with my persistence.

“Keep telling yourself that, Little Dove.” I bump the underside of her chin with two fingers.

Her head jerks away from my touch as she huffs, seeming to fight a glimmer of a smile. “You’re insufferable and, as I’ve already said, my name is Spencer. Not mate or little…Dove.”

The way she chokes on that last word makes me grin.

“Oh, I’m fully aware,” I say as she walks away, giving me her back and a view I quite enjoy of her ass in the worn jeans that sculpt her lower half.

Spencer might not be full of peace, but she is my hope for something more than the hate I’ve been filled with for centuries.

My hope and light, thanks to her alabaster skin and her nearly white hair that flows behind her like the wings of the bird I’ve just deemed her.

Chapter 9

SPENCER

One moment I want to give this man a chance—at least enough to understand him—and the next I want to scream in his face, doing whatever I can to get him to walk away now.

Mostly because he’s right.

I saw his intent to kiss me coming from a mile away. Worse, I anticipated it, craved the touch of this man, wondered if… My head shakes. Damn it, what is wrong with me?

My wolf hums inside me, reminding me that there isn’t anything wrong. It’s this bond. One I don’t want to want.

If he’d just be a raging asshole, everything would be so much easier.

With Drake following right behind me, I make my way to Spells. I need to see Natalia and make my final deal with the witch.

“Where are we going?” Drake asks, matching my pace, but staying just a step behind me.

“I’m going to see a witch. Like I said before.”

He chuckles. “Are you always so pent up and rude, or are you trying extra hard just for me?”

His question makes me misstep, but I catch my footing before I can stumble.

Stupid, insightful male.

“This is who I am,” I say, and the lie threatens to strangle me. I certainly don’t want to be this person. “If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to turn around and walk away.”

Drake leans forward and whispers in my ear, “If I did that, you’d hate every step of distance I took. Even if you’re too stubborn to admit it out loud.”

For the rest of the walk to Spells, I remain silent. Have I gone past the point of ridiculousness? Quite possibly, but this was all thrusted on me moments before my little brother had to kill our father. Emotions are high, and I’m floundering within their beating waves, doing my best to survive. It doesn’t help that I’ve been taught to keep people at a distance for my own protection all my life. I can’t help that being defensive is my go-to when I feel backed into a corner, alone, overwhelmed, all of the above.

When I open the door to Natalia’s shop, the songbird lets out its normal tune, but for once, doesn’t cause me to wince.

“How enchanting,” Drake muses as he glances up at the bird. Of course, he likes the damn sound.

Natalia waltzes into the front of the shop, her eyes bright with magic as if she’d just been in the middle of a spell. “Spencer, twice in one day.” Her stare flicks briefly to Drake. “And you’ve brought a friend. I’m not sure whether to feel lucky or to be concerned.”

“We need to make our last trade, Natalia,” I say, ignoring her musings. “I’m leaving Crossroads.”

The fall of her shoulders matches the down turning of her lips. “I hoped we’d have more time.”

Yeah, so did I.

---