Page 41 of Tainted Gifts
Jase is suddenly in front of me, pulling me from the crack. I half expect him to chastise me for my insubordination, but he takes my hand instead.
"You're coming back with me," he murmurs softly.
Jase, I have to tell you something.
He looks at me, his expectant, beautiful eyes glistening hopefully. I'm sure he's not expecting to hear what I'm about to tell him though.
Kellan is an emergent hybrid like my mother. He needs to come back too. We may have to run.
Jase's eyes widen, and then a flicker of pain passes through. He looks away, but he keeps my hand in his.
"That explains so much. Is that why you think he's your counter?"
I look around, not feeling too at ease about so many being around for this conversation.
I don't know if he is or isn't, but he'd be strong enough to be. There's a draw, it's... it's not what I expected, but it's there.
He nods, his lips tightening and his grip becoming painful on my hand. He loosens his hold immediately upon hearing my inner pronouncement of pain, but he doesn't drop it all together.
"Do you love him?"
Not at all.
Hope reappears in his eyes, and now I feel as though I've given him the wrong answer. I should have lied, told him I did love him, because I know what will happen one day. He knows it too.
"It doesn't have to happen, Aria. You've never gone savage. If he does, then you do what you have to do. I love you too much to give you up. I wish you'd see that."
The pain in his voice carries more weight than I care to acknowledge. I can't be with him. It's not fair. My anger for his lie has subsided more with each passing day, but I know, as much as I wish it wasn't true in this moment, Kellan is my counter.
Jase says nothing else, and I wish he could tune out my mind to keep from overhearing my words of heartbreak.
"Let's get the children loaded up, and then we'll feed them," he murmurs softly.
Tears threaten my eyes, but I hold them back. If they're that afraid of a few small children, what would happen if they saw my violet eyes?
Jase is the first in the RV behind the children. I stand off to the side, waiting for Kellan to return from our RV, carrying our bags.
I look at him apologetically, grimacing slightly for having revealed his secret to Jase. He reads me without needing to get inside my mind, further proving our connection.
"You told him?" he grumbles. "Shit, Aria."
"I had to. You would have been left behind, and I might need your help getting these kids out of the United," I whisper, keeping our conversation just between us.
He smirks, running his thumb over my lips as I pretend my head isn't about to rupture. Maybe I can learn to love him. Mom loved Dad and he was her counter. Most all counters fall head-over-heels in love... eventually. Maybe we're just off to a slow start.
"You're ready to be a fugitive with me?" he whispers.
"If it'll keep them safe, then let's go play Bonnie and Clyde - minus the bank robberies of course."
My light joke doesn't make him laugh. The way he looks at me changes from mischievously sexy to genuinely affectionate and endearing. My head hurts too badly to keep pretending it doesn't though, and I grab it when it becomes too much.
"Aria, that's not natural. We have to find out what's going on. Not to mention, you're sweating like a melting human right now."
"That's because I'm burning alive. Are you not hot?"
He studies me intensely, regarding me with nothing but seriousness in his caring eyes.
"I'm hot, but I'm not suffering the way you are."
