Page 27 of Dare To Live

Eli breaks the silence first. “As soon as the storm clears, you’re out of here, Princess.”

“Fine by me.”

“Just because we’re sharing the cabin doesn’t mean we have to see each other. You can stay in the guestroom.”

“Oh no,” I shake my head. “I’m not staying in there for god knows how many days this storm could go on for.”

His gaze is still locked on my face. “Then I guess you’ll just have to stay out of my fucking way.”

“You’re cooking for yourself?”

“I’ve lived here for five years, Princess. I have plenty of food. Contrary to what you seem to believe, I did survive without your fucking culinary skills.”

“Good, I don’t want to have to see your face while I’m trying to eat.” I walk into the kitchen. “I’m making breakfast. Stay out here or go back to your bedroom.”

A growl follows me, and I bite back a smug grin.

Did he think I was going to scurry back to my room?

We might be stuck together, but I’m not going to let him bully me into doing what he wants.

I’m not a scared little girl anymore, and he’s no longer the Monster of Churchill Bradley Academy.

Chapter 16

Eli

She takes her sweet fucking time making whatever it is she’s decided to have for breakfast. Jokes on her because I rarely eat breakfast anyway. I spend the time trying to unblock the front door. A pointless task as the snow has built up so much, there’s no way it’s going to shake loose. If it continues, I might have to climb out of a window, but it’s not important right now.

“You can use the kitchen now.” Her voice is prim, clipped, and full of annoyance.

I turn to face her and lift an eyebrow. “You understand that this is my house, right? You don’t get to dictate what I do or when I do it.”

She smirks at me. “I could always remove your cute little color codes from the microwave or food containers.”

My expression doesn’t change, but my tone does. It turns silky. “Do it. See what happens. If you think the punishments I meted out when we were eighteen were hard to stomach, just wait until you see what I’m capable of now.”

“I’m not scared of you, Eli.”

I let my gaze drift over her. “You used to be. It wouldn’t be hard to bring all those feelings back. We’re here all alone.” I take a step toward her. “There’s no one here to stop me.”

Her expression turns cold. “Thank you for the reminder of why I walked away from you.” And then she turns and does it again, turning her back on me and walking away with her breakfast, into the guest room.

I don’t try to stop her. My nerves are already raw from having her in my space. The best thing I can do is keep our interactions brief until the storm has passed and I can send her home.

What the fuck was Elena thinking by sending her here?

As soon as the question enters my mind, I search for my cell and call my stepmom’s number, but I get an unavailable tone. Staring down at the screen, I see a no network notice.

“Fucking thing.” I throw it on the couch. “Just fucking great.”

We’re stuck in the middle of a forest, alone, with no way of contacting the outside world. If we both survive the next few days without killing each other, it’ll be a fucking miracle.

You’re such an idiot.

My eyes land on the crystal raven on the mantelpiece. “Get out of my head, Kell.”

I would, except I’m the only person in the cabin who’s talking to you right now.

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