Page 164 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“You and I are definitely having a girl’s night tomorrow,” I told Violet, making her giggle.

“Aw man, I miss out on everything.” Adrien pouted.

“Don’t tell me you’re not itching to leave and see Elias. You’re leaving like two minutes after sunset,” Violet teased, and Adrien had the decency to blush.

Too soon, it was sunset, and Elim and Adrien were saying goodbye at the front of the pack house. I watched Chris’ reaction to the hug Violet gave Elim and as she got on her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear. Before Chris and Violet got back together, he was always frowning whenever Elim got close to Violet. Today, he wasn’t reacting and even gave them privacy to talk, before he walked up and gave the man a half hug with a smile.

"Take care of yourself, Bells," Adrien came over and hugged me.

"Thanks for coming to help. I really appreciate it."

"Don’t be a stranger anymore. Call me often. I miss you. Everyone does." He kneeled down to Adam’s level. "And you, little man. Take care of your mommy, okay?"

Adam nodded, a look of determination on his face. "And Violet. I promised Chris."

"Good man." Adrien leaned and gave him a hug.

I watched them leave, then turned to find Cade watching me with his arms crossed. I pretended not to notice, and walked in with everyone toward the dining room.

After dinner, I read to Adam until he was asleep. I looked down the hallway to Cade’s room when I exited. I should go talk to him, but I still didn’t have any answers to the questions he was going to ask. So, instead of being a grown adult, and go find him to have a difficult conversation, I chose to be a coward and hide out in my room.

I walked in, not bothering to turn on the lights, and plopped on the bed. Painful stars burst from my head as I hit something hard. I rolled and landed on the floor, dazed while that hard something grunted in pain. My lamp was turned on and two of Cade’s faces were illuminated above me.

"What the hell were you doing in my bedroom in the dark?" I groaned, plopping back down on the floor. My head was throbbing and my vision was blurry.

"I was waiting for you. Bells, get up. You’re bleeding."

"Maybe that’s what they mean by jaw so sharp it could cut glass," I snorted. I put a hand on my forehead and it came away red. This is the last thing I needed today.

"Are you drunk?" he asked.

"No, but that sounds like a lovely idea."

"Let’s go to the bathroom to clean you up."

"That’s okay. Just leave me here," I mumbled, closing my eyes.

“Bells, let’s go.”

“No,” I answered back, placing my arm over my face so the light filtering through my eyelids didn’t bother me.

I felt two arms push under my body, and then I was lifted into Cade’s arm. He carried me to the bathroom, where he sat me on the sink before he turned on the light. The sudden brightness made me nauseous, and I turned around and threw up my dinner into the sink.

“Shit. Sorry,” I said, wiping my mouth and hopping down to clean. The entire room spun and suddenly, Cade was in front of me again.

“I think you have a concussion,” he murmured.

“No. I can’t afford it.” I tried to slide down to the ground so it could stop moving, but Cade was holding me up. I looked up at him and ran my finger along his chin. “It’s red.”

“You have a pretty thick head, Princess.” Cade tried to smile but he still looked concerned.

“Don’t be a dick." A sudden face appeared over Cade’s shoulder, smirking at me, and I frowned at him. "You’re such a dick, Brandon. I’m glad you’re dead.”

“Me, too, sweetheart,” Cade mumbled, picking me up again and laying me on the bed.

He removed my jeans, leaving me in just my shirt and panties. Cade pulled the covers over me and then went to leave.

"Please don’t go, Cade," I whimpered.

---