Page 40 of Hate Me

“If King gives you any trouble, let me know,” he said.

That had me laughing. “Damn, I’d love to see that clash of the titans.”

“Well, once I’m done with the clash here, I’ll be free to—”

“No,” Jonah cut in. “No way. Once this is done, there won’t be any more of that. You’re retiring from this life, all this bullshit. Just nice and easy all the way. No more danger, pain, and self-sacrifice.”

“All right, Jonah,” he told him, but then smirked at me, letting me know his promise still stood.

As I snatched up my bags that I’d left in the corner of the porch, I slung them over my shoulder, then forced myself down the porch steps.

Don’t look back. Don’t.

I focused on Aaron who was gonna walk me off the property to avoid the traps rigged around the area to deter any enemy approach.

Unfortunately, that would give us more time to discuss the very things that I didn’t want to.

It was enough of a mind-fuck as it was that Caspian had reached out to me like this and about Skylar, no less.

We didn’t get more than five minutes into the journey out when it started up, as he told me, “You accomplished what you set out to do. That darkness is under control. You’re no longer a risk.”

“It wasn’t just about that. And you know as well as I do, thanks to your experience with somebody just like me in Ash, that the so-called darkness being under control isn’t to be taken for granted. Things can change where that’s concerned, given the wrong provocations and pressure.”

“Good thing you’re stronger than that now then, isn’t it?”

I blew out a breath. “Fuck, do you have an answer for everything?”

“You’ve spent enough time working with me recently, I think you already have your answer.”

The bastard had me laughing. “Jesus.”

He stopped suddenly and grasped my shoulder. “This is me just trying to do you a favor, all right? What you did for Ash… it’s a big fucking deal. You helped him like nobody else could. It’s made a difference. I won’t forget it.”

Well, then. I smiled. “He helped me too.”

“And going back to your home, reuniting with King, will get you the last step of the way, and bring completion to your personal quest.”

I grasped his hand on my shoulder. “All right, I hear you, you stubborn bastard. I'll handle my shit. Just make sure you handle yours, get them through the upcoming war, okay?”

He smiled. “Deal.”

We broke apart, then started navigating our way through the booby-trapped laced forest, thankfully just shooting the shit, with no more heavy talk.

I was sure I’d be enduring a hell of a lot where that was concerned all too soon.

Caspian would make sure of that.

Me walking had cut him deep.

Just as deep as it had cut me.

All four of us, actually.

It wasn’t gonna be easy.

But answering that text had basically been me making the decision to face it.

I didn’t know exactly what I was gonna be walking into.

---