Page 115 of Thorns of Malice

He recovers and looks at me, placing his hand on my arm, repeating, "Let's go, Ivy."

"I'm not going with you," I reiterate.

"You are."

"No, I'm not."

"Get your hand off her," Dax threatens again.

"Stay out of this," I warn him.

Jaxon takes his fist and slams it into Dax's face. His head jerks toward the wall.

"Jaxon, what the fuck?" I step between them.

Dax slowly glances back at Jaxon, with his hand on his cheek.

"Please. Don't," I beg Dax, afraid he'll retaliate.

Jaxon shakes his fist out, claiming, "We're leaving."

I put my hands in the air. "No. We. Aren't."

Dax steps closer to me. His face is already swelling. He points at Jaxon. "I'm giving you a final warning."

Jaxon steps closer.

I push at his chest, ordering, "Go."

He freezes, looking at me. "You don't mean that."

My eyes well up. I swallow hard, stating, "I do."

"You don't. You're coming with me," he insists.

A burst of anger blows through me. I'm tired of everyone telling me what to do. This is my life, and I get to make my own choices. I fume, "Did you not hear a word I said earlier?"

A look of hurt overtakes his features.

I feel horrible. Jaxon's been a good friend to me, but I don't love him, and I don't think he loves me either. He's just jonesing. Still, he's never said anything like that to me before. So I soften my tone when I say, "You don't mean what you said."

"I do," he insists.

"You don't, and I am not going with you. You need to leave."

"You heard her," Dax warns.

I spin to face him. "Shut up!"

He opens his mouth and then shuts it, grinding his molars.

I turn back toward Jaxon.

Dax slides his arm around my waist, tugging me into him.

My core dances with endorphins. I inhale sharply and can't push away from him.

Shock and disappointment fills his voice, "You don't know what you're doing, Ivy."

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