Page 90 of Tainted Gifts
I turn to walk off, feeling his heartbreaking with clarity, but I know it's just what he thinks he feels. We're not like all the counters in hybrid history. That connection I prayed for came in the disguise of a full blood. He may not be my counter, but he's my soul mate, just like Uncle Brazen is to my mother, only it's better because he's hybrid too.
Kellan catches back up to me, proving he's more persistent than he is smart. I rip my arm away before his heated touch even has the chance to find it. He drops the hand he attempted to touch me with and he sighs out.
"You're wrong," he murmurs softly, making me slow my stride. "I know everything about you. I've watched you, learned about you... I know everything you went through because I'm so much like you. I know where you lived, how old you were when you joined the United, how long you cried after your father's death. I know it all."
He just doesn't get it. It's almost tragic how completely lost he is. I turn around, keeping my voice softer as my teary eyes meet his false hybrid blues that are full of trepidation.
"Kellan, that's not what I'm talking about. You studied me like a project you had to research. I'm not some experiment or tech toy, I'm a person. You know my history, you know what I am... you don't know who I am. Just let it go."
I turn away, this time escaping him when he stays back. I'd like to think he's finally ceding, but I'm sure he's just dropping back long enough to regroup. This is torture. I'm worried to death about Jase right now, and I'm even more worried what might happen if they touch him. I'll lose it, and I won't hold back if the power finds me again. I won't let anything happen to him.
I watch the clock ticking down, finding the last five minutes before the hour I promised him is up. I start preparing myself, strapping my guns to my side as the door to the suite opens and Rex steps in.
"Hey," he murmurs in a near whisper, looking like he's dressed for war himself.
"You ready?" I ask, my stomach tightening.
"As will ever be. Mom's going to kick our ass for this. We'll officially be outlaws of the United," he says, offering me one last chance to back out.
"You don't have to go in. I do."
"She's my counter. You're the one who doesn't have to go in. You're counter is three doors down. He's probably still licking his wounds he sustained after the fight."
I roll my eyes, standing to strap on my uranium-tipped daggers. As I slip on my last boot, I let myself turn snarky.
"Now you're a Kellan fan? It wasn't long ago you were watching as Uncle Grayson beat the hell out of him."
"And it wasn't long ago you threatened all of us about what would happen if we touched him again, yet here you are... threatening him now. It's just... I think your blood being fucked with has messed up your head."
My head pops back so my eyes can meet his, but I regret that when a bowling ball tries to roll around in there. Without Jase, my headache has become unbearable. "I loved Jase before someone tried to lure me across the country with the call of a blood fuck. I loved him before I knew he'd accept me. I loved him before our lives got even more fucked up than they already were. My head isn't messed up right now, it was messed up when I thought I wanted to be with anyone but him. Don't tempt me to knock you out and make you miss all the fun."
Ending in a joke eases the tension, and he smirks before pulling me in for a hug. "Then let's go get our full blood hybrids."
I smile, nodding after, and we start toward the door when it swings open in front of us. I gasp when I see Jase, and I dive into his arms, drinking in his incredible scent that mingles with soap.
"You showered?" I murmur, confusion in my tone.
I barely even notice Melania coming in to be scooped up by her adoring counter. Jase chuckles lightly, shrugging while pulling back.
"Blood isn't something people take lightly, so they offered me the chance to shower in the suite where we were speaking."
He looks me up and down, and then his eyes fall to Rex just as Melania steps back to inspect her militant man.
"Going to... war?" she asks, seeming to think he's ridiculous.
"Thought about it," Rex says with a shrug, making her laugh.
Jase frowns while pulling a dagger from my belt, and then he drops it to let it stick in the floor.
"You really didn't think I could handle it, did you?" he asks, his brow arching.
"I gave you an hour to prove me wrong," I murmur casually, pulling him down to meet my lips.
It's incredible he's even here right now.
"What happened?" Rex asks when I become too lost in the deep kiss to interrogate my hybrid.
Mel answers when I refuse to release my hold on Jase. He smiles against my lips as he pulls me closer.
