Page 99 of A Debt of Darkness

“Absolutely?” she asks. “Yes or no?”

“Yes.”

She takes a breath and her expression softens. “Then why wouldn’t I trust him?”

Confusion.

I’m caught in pure confusion. It’s overwhelming. All-consuming. She’s telling me something and I don’t understand it. There’s a logic in her train of thought and I’ve lost the strands, unable to follow the path she’s asking me to walk.

“I don’t understand what Ryan is to you, Henry, but he’s more like a brother than a best friend. You’re inseparable—and you trust him. Absolutely.” She waits until she’s sure I won’t catch up with her. “So, if you trust Ryan and I trust you…”

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

Far too late the pieces snap into place and I understand what the last few minutes have been about. She doesn’t trust Ryan more than me. She trusts him because of me. Ivy took a leap of faith, and she wasn’t taking it with Ryan. She placed her trust in me and my judgment, and that’s why she acted.

The blood drains from my head and I stare, astounded by the girl who clung to life last night and gave me mine back today. Ivy sinks further into the bed and my tension eases now the woman I didn’t want but is the only thing I care about sets me free. I’m at peace, certain of her devotion and sure it’s as strong as mine.

“Can we get those awful things off him now?”

I dare to flick my eyes back to Ryan, wincing as he shuffles uncomfortably while the silver burns his skin and depletes his strength. Damn, I’ve been an idiot. A barbaric, vicious idiot.

And like the imbecile I am, I can’t find my words, and I resort to nodding. I obey as my human pet demands. I hand any keys over to Matt and stare in disbelief when he follows her command, undoing the shackles on his partner. Ryan collapses into his arms, and Matt wastes no time in picking him up and carrying him to safety.

I’m left standing in the middle of my room. There’s nowhere left to run. Nowhere left to hide. Ivy’s striped me bare and seen through all my layers. She’s exposed all my weaknesses, discovered all my flaws and seen me for all I am. Ivy doesn’t know all the terrible things I’ve done, but she knows what I’m capable of and she doesn’t flinch, loving me anyway.

She’s perfect.

She’s my rare and beautiful light in an otherwise dark and torturous lifetime.

She's startling and Matt was right. She’s way above me.

28

FUCKING NEEDY PET

IVY

Henry doesn’t know what to do. He’s reeling from my confession, only standing because his muscles are working on memory, not instruction. His heart would have stopped if it had a beat and the man stares at me, petrified and in shock. He’s lost his confident exterior and shown the uncertainty beneath it, offering me a glimpse of the darkness beneath his surface.

I’ve always known it was there. Always recognized it for what it is. I didn’t understand but it doesn’t frighten me anymore now I do.

“Are you going to say something?” I ask.

Bright blue eyes flick up to meet mine and they’re full of confusion, hope, and devotion. He lets his perfect lips curl into a hint of a smile before he walks towards the bed, still in a trance as he makes his way over.

He slides in next to me and pulls me against him, nestling me next to him. We lie together and our bodies obliterate the space between us, silently screaming in a language they understand.

“I’ve never been so fucking terrified.”

I hum and his fingers trail down me.

“What happens with me and Ryan now?” I ask.

Henry draws a long, deep breath. “Nothing. He has some of your memories, and I assume he’ll tell you which ones.”

I sigh, relieved.

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