Page 92 of The Hunt of Night

Taking another deep breath, I press my palm into the sheets beneath me and try to rise. I manage to shuffle back an inch before I fall backward with a grunt.

“You need to rest, Addi,” she murmurs, worry storming her eyes, but I can still sense the animosity that was there the last time we spoke.

“I shouldn’t be here,” I admit, trying to move again to no avail.

“Why?” Her eyebrows gather as her gaze narrows on mine, and I sigh.

“To keep you safe.”

Wood scrapes across the floor as she rises from her seat, the chair discarded as she wades in on me with a pointed finger. “If you keep sprouting crap like that, you’re going to need to keep yourself safe frommebecause I swear to all that might hear me?—”

“Nora—”

“I am not done,” she warns, coming to stand over me now. I have no choice but to look up at her. A simple nod from me, and she proceeds.

“We came here without batting an eyelid. For you.” I open my mouth, but I don’t get a single syllable past my lips before she puts her hand in my face, cutting me off before I can even begin. “We have done what is needed. For you. We will continue to do whatever makes your life easier, but I need you to know how hard it is for us to be away from you.” Her voice cracks at the end, tears welling in her eyes, and it cuts me to the bone.

“It breaks me too, Nora,” I admit. My voice wobbles as I reach for her, but she doesn’t take my hand.

“Then why?” she pushes, and all I can do is be honest with her.

“Because you’re all I have.” My words linger between us for what feels like a lifetime before she clears her throat.

“But what use is that when you suddenly refuse to see us?”

I try to sit up again, and this time she leans forward, helping me so my back is propped against the headboard. When she moves to take a step back, I wrap my fingers around hers, refusing to let her go too far.

“I wasn’t prepared for how dangerous the people in power are.” It’s the truth. She knows it, but she still shakes her head.

“I spent every day of my life with you up until the day you left for the academy. I knew there would be distance between us, but not like this, and not because of people who shouldn’t matter. Screw them.”

I squeeze her fingers in understanding. “I wish it was that easy.”

“I think you’re the person making it harder than it has to be,” she retorts, attempting to tug her hand from mine.

“You don’t understand,” I plead, releasing her hand when she tries to tug it from my grasp again.

She folds her arms over her chest, staring at me with a deepening frown. “You’re right. I don’t understand because you continue to give me half-assed answers that mean nothing. All I’m feeling is the loss of you. Just like we felt the loss of Mom, only this time, I don’t have my sister to help me through it.” Tears streak down her cheeks now, her pain coming to the forefront as my heart crushes.

Fuck.

“Nora, I’m?—”

“Don’t give me some bullshit apology,” she grumbles with a sniff, swiping at her cheeks.

“It’s not bullshit,” I insist, and she scoffs.

“It’s bullshit until we can be together, and you can’t tell me otherwise.”

Well, fuck. My lips purse as I try to wrap my head around another complex situation, but the only thing I can do is agree with her.

“You’re right,” I admit, and she snickers.

“I always am.”

“You’re also a pain in the ass,” I grumble, and she offers me a watery smile.

“You’re welcome.” Her sass is back in full force and it warms my soul.

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