Page 105 of Possession

I turn away with a huff. “Mocking me,” I mutter. “How original.”

“Will you run to Henry and tattle?”

A chill runs up my spine. “Stay away from Henry,” I tell him.

“Or what, Mary?”

It takes me a moment to compose myself. I want to appear strong, but losing Henry would shatter me beyond words. Beyond time.

He has become everything.

Finally, I meet his Aris’ black gaze, glaring. “Or I’ll end this game,” I say as fiercely as I can. “I’ll go where you’ll never find me.”

A brow lifts, and he looks almost amused. “And where would that be?”

“Maybe with Jaegen,” I say, then slam my jaw shut. I didn’t mean to play that card.

“Jaegen.” His eyes darken, mouth curling. “Are you threatening me now?”

“I don’t know. Are you threatened by him?”

There is a heavy pause, until Aris finally lets out a laugh. It’s unlike before; there is nothing humorous in the sound. “You reject me, Mary,” he says, almost like he can’t believe it.

“Yes, I reject you!” I hiss. How can he not understand? How could it not be any clearer? “Get that through your head. I don’t want to see you again!”

There’s a pressure on my throat, and I’m grabbed and pushed until my back hits stone. His hands, curved like claws, shake represses his true strength, and it’s obvious that he is being very, very careful with me. Looming as he presses me into the wall, his face contorts and shows his malicious nature; teeth bared, eyes drawn, and nostrils flared, it’s like he could eat me whole and raw.

My breath catches—he’s as wild as I’ve ever seen him and I don’t know how this works. Are we following Nightmare on Elm Street dream rules? If I die here, do I die in real life? Would he actually kill me? The only sign of restraint is his hands, which have yet to rip out my throat, though they tremble as they itch to.

“What you want doesn’t matter,” he snarls in my face, untamed.

Tears of frustration cloud my vision as I tilt my head to glare at him. Face is like a dark watercolor, harsh features blurred, I find the confidence to speak. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I grit out, voice choked from the pressure of his hand.

Finally, he releases my throat, but he does not move back; in fact, he leans down even closer. Fingers colder than ice wipe away a stray tear. “Because you’re mine, Mary,” he says.

I’m not, I want to say, but cannot.

Why can’t I?

He dips down to kiss my cheek, making me shiver as I recall the sharp points of his teeth. Just moments ago, he was completely unhinged. Now, he is close enough to bite.

“And,” he adds with a breath, “because I know you. I know that you missed this.” His lips curl against my skin. “That you even enjoy it.”

“That’s not true,” I say, but his grin grows against my skin.

“You aren’t weary of the game. You’re just angry I’m outplaying you.” His mouth moves to my ear, where he whispers, “Don’t worry. I’ll see you soon.”

My eyes shoot open, heart about to fly out of my chest as I take in my bedroom. I’m back. I’m awake, and he’s gone. I repeat the mantra three times, reaching for something to ground me in this reality, and fist my covers, trembling with rage and fear.

That’s that then. He’s coming for me.

So I need to be ready.

Chapter twenty-four

“Tell me again why we’re here,” says Simon.

I navigate around a frozen girl to keep pace as we walk down the breakfast aisle. I catch a glimpse at her face as I do, trapped in a half-blink while squinting at a box of cereal, and suppress a shudder. The stopping time thing is still eerie to me.

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