Page 27 of Bound By Darkness

He knew my past and had spewed it from his lips like it was nothing. The past I’d attempted to escape from.

Was it worth the risk to venture further? To be so close to something I had desired for years only to have it quelled by his unsightly appearance?

My nails dug into the chipping wood as they turned pale. It wasn’t worth the entitlement he’d spew upon me if he noticed I’d left my room. I’d venture outside later when I could freely feel the faelight kiss my skin. Feel the grass tickle my soles while the breeze played with the curled ends of my hair.

Inching myself back up the steps, I kept my eyes peeled on him for any sudden movements?—

“Are you going to watch me all day?” he asked, his scarred fingers tossing ripe tomatoes into the wicker basket at his hip. Another weed tumbled over his shoulder as his black hair swallowed the faelight.

My feet stumbled over the last step as I stopped. Clearing my throat, I puffed out my chest. “I’m heading back inside.”

Tomatoes snapped from the vines as a low hum left his lips. “Aren’t you going to offer to help?”

“Offer to help you?” I scoffed. “That’s rich after what you’ve done to me.” Help him? I wanted to laugh at his words.

His hands paused as his gaze traveled to mine. He wiped his forehead, leaving behind streaks of rust-colored dirt. “Oh?” he quipped. “What exactly have I done to you?”

I gaped. The arrogance— “What haven’t you done? You kidnapped me, dragged me into Lost Woods, and threatened me in the kitchen!”

“Threatened? I did no such thing. I merely stated facts,” he said, a hint of a smile on his face.

“You cornered me against the door and whispered information about my past no one else knows. How is that not threatening?”

“You tried to run.”

“Because you’reinsane!” This man… this man bordered on crazy.

He closed the wicker basket as more rust-colored clay dropped to the ground. “I appreciate the sentiment, but if you’re looking for information—” He stood, the basket resting on his hip as he climbed the steps. “You need only ask nicely.”

My blood boiled at the smug gesture. I took a step back, but he countered with his own. “Stop following me.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You’re blocking the door.”

I crossed my arms over my frantically beating heart. “Go around.”

He scoffed. “I could easily plow through you. You’re skin and bone. Hardly a threat.”

“Go around.” I refused to let his petty answers get to me. I refused to let fear grip my heart in his presence.

“Thalia Carr?—”

“Stop using my full name.” I hated the way he said it, as if he cared.

“Should I call you half-breed?” he countered. “Or is there another name you’d prefer?”

Wind chimes sang in the distance, the music ebbing and flowing in the afternoon light.

“Then half-breed it is,” he said, a painted smile echoing back at me. “If you’ll excuse me.” His head gestured to the door as he took a step around.

“Why?” I blurted, my eyes assessing him.

He paused. “Why what?”

“Why did you rescue me? Gwen said it’s because you need me to save Cethales.” What was I doing? Asking the person who’d kidnapped me why they did it? If mother saw me now, she’d die again.

The wicker basket crinkled as his hand turned white. “She told you?”

I nodded.

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