Page 44 of Stealing Embers

She nods her agreement. “It’s a good thing Steel was around. With you not being able to phase properly and all. Him being there to save you—and for the second time—what a stroke of luck. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to not be able to do something as simple as phase correctly. That’s something children learn before going off to primary school.”

Well, that was a lovely zinger.

I stand quietly, deciding just to wait her out. Her lips, eyes, and brow pinch in annoyance when she realizes I’m not going to take a big ol’ bite of the bait she dangled in front of me.

Interesting. This girl likes her prey to either fight back or start running. She wants to make sure her words hit their target.

This time my eyes narrow.

“You should really be working on those elementary skills, at least. Next time Steel may not be around, or may not be interested in saving you when—”

“Listen.” I don’t know what it is that prompted me to talk when I’ve held my tongue so many times before. Maybe it’s just exhaustion over repeatedly biting back my words? At some point, silence stops being the easy way out.

“Let me be crystal clear with you. I’m not interested in Steel—likeat all. I find him incredibly frustrating and quite frankly, a bully. He’s all yours, I promise. I’ll happily stay away from him. And not because you want me to, but because I’m not interested in being anywhere near him. Is that good? Are we done here?”

Oh lookie, she’s speechless.

Nova gawks at me as if I’ve sprouted wings of fire and set the hallway ablaze. Her eyes are no longer narrowed slits of suspicion, but rather round orbs filled with shock. She actually takes a half-step back. The heel of her ridiculously high stiletto clacks against the floor.

I can’t help the short laugh that bursts from my chest. This girl is not used to people talking to her like that.

Capitalizing on her surprise, I step around her and stride to the elevators—not checking over my shoulder once. That last part was the hardest. I’ve been attacked from behind on too many occasions.

I jam my finger against the down button three more times than necessary and pray the elevator will show up soon.

She’s only going to stay in her shocked stupor for so long.

“Hey, wait up.”

Leaning my head back, I groan up at the ceiling.

Why me? Why is it always me?

With ading, the doors slide open and I jump into the cab, not bothering to acknowledge Nova as her heels clip-clop their way toward me.

The doors close slowly and I grin.

Maybe if you weren’t wearing such ridiculous shoes, you’d have gotten here faster.

Just as the doors are about to come together, a manicured hand shoots between them.

No!

Since their sensors have been triggered, the doors open again to reveal one pissed off Nephilim girl.

“Did you not hear me calling?”

“Do you really want the answer to that?”

Her eyes flare as she stomps into the elevator with me.

Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut and swallow her insults? Now I’m going to have—

“I like you.”

Say what?

“Huh?”

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