Page 22 of Blood Freed

“Mia…”His voice in my head brings tears to my eyes.

I sit up straighter.“It’s you!”

“Yes.”He says nothing else.

“Are…are you okay?”I’m feeling worried.

“I’m fine, Mia.”He doesn’t sound fine.

And that leaves me feeling hollow.“Soren, don’t give up. I’m going to—”

“Stop.”There’s an edge to that voice now.

Stop? What does he mean “stop”?

“They can’t keep you. I’m going to get you out.”I’m growing more determined with every minute that passes. Especially after seeing him in that cell. After feeling the connection. After feeling his lips.

There’s a pause before I sense him again.“No. Leave me. This isn’t your business, Mia.”

“How can you say that? Of course it’s my business. After all we’ve been through…” I whisper, putting my hand to my chest.

“It’s over. I’ve cleared my conscience. It’s done.”

My heart constricts. He’s cleared his conscience?

“Is that what it was about? All…all of it?”I remember his hands on my skin, his mouth exploring me, tasting me.“I don’t believe that, Soren.”

“Believe it.”There’s another pause, and then,“Goodbye, Mia.”

“No!” I blurt, jumping to my feet. The abrupt move makes me sway on my still-unsteady legs. “No, Soren. This isn’t goodbye. I can help you.”

There’s no response.

I push deeper, searching for that familiar touch of his mind against mine. For a moment, I catch a flicker of something – longing and fear tangled together, the ghost of his fingers on my skin.

Then nothing.

A wall slams down, cold and impenetrable. I press against it, frustration building as I encounter only silence. The sudden emptiness where his presence should be creates a physical ache in my chest.

He’s shutting me out.

But why?

“Don’t do this,” I choke, though I know he can’t hear me now. “Please, Soren.”

But the wall remains, and the rejection stings like ice against my skin.

I press the heels of my palms to my eyes until stars form behind my eyelids. I’m here, home, after a year of fear and uncertainty locked in a cage, and now I’m sitting here, shattered because I’ve lost my connection with the man who kept me there.

What’s wrong with you?

It’s what Dad would ask. Mom, too. Probably Kara. But it’s a question I don’t have an answer to because nothing feels wrong about being with Soren. The strange relationship we’d forged over the past months might look dysfunctional to some – okay, probably to everyone – but for me, it feels more like home than this place does right now.

That’s so messed up, Mia.

“Oh God,” I groan, rubbing my face with both hands. I don’t know what’s worse. Feeling like there’s something seriously wrong with me or the sense of desolation at not being able to connect with him.

Center yourself.

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