Page 58 of Stitches

“Don’t. Don’t fight me. Please, Siren,” I whispered frantically as she tried to escape from my hold. I held tight though, vowing she’d have to gut me to get me to release her.

Despite the cold and her fear, she was still strong. she bucked against my body, forcing me to adjust my grip on her. Her fear only made me want to hold her that much more, so I tightened my arms around her.

She continued her struggle until she finally slowed to a stop and sagged against me. She knew she couldn’t win.

It was a repeat of the last time.

I fucking hated that. It was my nightmare, back from the dead to torture us both.

She shook against me, but I loosened my hold on her just a little so she could breathe easier.

We stood that way forever, her in my arms in the middle of the woods beneath a full moon.

“Sinful,” she finally whispered in her delicate voice.

I swallowed hard at the sound of my name on her lips.

“I-I d-don’t trust y-you,” her voice trembled with the words.

I held her tighter, my eyes burning with the first round of tears. One slipped past my lashes and slid down my cheek, followed quickly by another. I tried to blink them away, but it was no use.

“I know, Siren,” I whispered back thickly. “I know.”

She went silent as a grave after that, but she didn’t try to pull away from me. She’d given up. I recognized her defeat as she sagged against me, the fight gone. Once more, we remained that way for so long that her breathing grew deeper. She’d given in and had fallen asleep against me.

“I won’t hurt you,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head fiercely. “I’ll never hurt you again. I swear it.”

And with those words, I scooped her into my arms and cradled her against my chest before walking back the way I’d come. I wanted to keep her, but she wasn’t mine, and I knew she never would be. I’d made my bed, and this was my punishment. I could have had it all, but I’d been stupid.

I accepted that. It took losing it all for me to see it.

Slowly, I made my way back to the watchers’ house and opened the front door. It was empty inside, but I didn’t expect them to be there if she were missing.

I went straight to Church’s bedroom with her and placed her in his bed before tucking her in. She looked like a sleeping princess as she lay beneath the thick covers.

Knowing I couldn’t stay, I leaned down and brushed my lips gently across hers, resting my forehead against hers and breathing in her scent once more.

“I’m sorry for my sins, Siren. So fucking sorry, baby.” One of my tears fell onto her cheek as I stayed that way for a moment.

Finally, I found the strength within me to straighten myself and turn to the door.

I stopped when I saw Stitches in the doorway, watching.

“I found her in the woods,” I murmured. “I didn’t hurt her. I brought her home.”

He said nothing as he studied me with his dark eyes.

With a slow perusal, his gaze moved down my body, stopping at her name carved into my chest, before taking in the rest of me and coming back to focus on my face.

“You’re a fucking mess,” he finally said.

“I know.”

He let out a soft huff. “This doesn’t change anything.” He gestured to my battered body, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“I know.”

He was quiet for a moment. “But it helps to know you’re suffering like I am. Like we all are.”

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