Page 29 of Tainted Gifts
Answer me, and I'll answer you.
He cracks his neck to the side as Kellan sinks back, struggling for air. Simone rushes to the kitchen and returns with a glass full of blood. Kellan appreciatively takes it from her, and he guzzles it down to start the healing process.
"I simply wanted him to know what would happen if he tried anything on you," Jase says casually, shrugging as though I'm being dramatic.
Rex walks in to join us, and he drops a heavy duffel bag to the floor. I start to question it, when Jase interrupts my curiosity.
"Your turn," he says, his eyes burning through me.
I narrow my eyes, ignoring the confusion on my uncle's face. He's the only one who doesn't know Jase's little secret.
Jase tilts his head, his eyes moving from Kellan.
Yes he knows. He figured it out on his own. As for the robe... ice bath. Been in one for hours. You're welcome to check my icy fingertips if you want.
His interest in Kellan falls away as his eyes narrow in scrutiny.
"Ice bath? Why?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Unc grumbles, walking over to the sink to wash his bloody knuckles clean.
I look back to Kellan who relaxes immensely once the sound of his broken bones snapping into place rings out. He takes a painless breath, and then he wipes some of the stray blood from his mouth.
"If you touch him again, I'll heal him with my blood right in front of you," I threaten, staring at Unc and Jase very deliberately.
Jase curses me with his eyes, and Unc swears under his breath for my crude, warning taunt. Kellan stifles a grin, enjoying my stance on his beating. He reaches up and takes my hand in his, mocking my full blood with our touch.
"Fucking touch her, and I'll-"
"Believe me, I know," Kellan interrupts dismissively, swatting away the threat he doesn't fear.
Stop being such an ass. He's here to help.
Jase doesn't answer or acknowledge I've even silently spoken to him. Then I remember Kellan's little ability to shut him out, helping me shut him out when touching me. I have to know how he does that.
I shiver hard as the numbness my body held from the chill fades, and I start to painfully thaw out.
"Damn you're cold," Kellan murmurs, pulling my hands into his as he blows a fiery warm breath on them.
It almost hurts as I start to return to my normal temperature, but Jase's jaw audibly clenching sours the delicious heat the hybrid offers.
"Get your fucking hands off her," he growls before blurring across the room and launching Kellan backwards.
My wall cracks behind his body, and I grip my head as it tries to explode. Every thing with glass suddenly shatters as my dormant gift decides to come to life. I cry out while dropping to my knees, and the cool hands of my heartbreaking full blood rescue me from the excruciating pain.
Within seconds of being against his chill, the pain creeps out, leaving me with relief. With no other option, I curl into him, relishing the reprieve he's offering.
I sigh out, feeling so ridiculously handicapped in this moment. Kellan dusts himself off while glaring at Jase, but I can't move. It hurts too much to try. I can't play mediator when I need the one I should be kicking out.
"It's better, isn't it?" Simone asks, walking over toward me.
"What's happening to her?" Unc asks, worry etched in his tone.
Rex comes over to pull me to him, and I start crying when the headache returns upon losing Jase's touch.
"What the fuck?" he says, seeming stupefied by my weakness.
Jase returns to save me once more, scooping me up and carrying me to couch. I nestle into his lap as he sits down, and he strokes my hair affectionately while Simone pulls up a chair right in front of us.
