Page 41 of A Twisted Gift

“It’s all right.” I skate a little closer, holding out my hand. “Let me show you.”

She grabs onto me, still gripping the wall tightly with her other hand. I coach her gently, teaching her all the things my dad taught me when he brought me here. It feels like a lifetime ago, yet the pain is still fresh.

Soon enough, Raina is gliding on the ice. She still has a hand on the wall, and she’s not going quickly, but it’s progress.

“Am… am I doing it?” she asks breathlessly.

“You are, little rose. I’m so proud of you.”

She turns to look at me, her lips parted in shock. The break in her focus causes her to lose her balance, and she topples over, taking me with her. I manage to pull her on top of me so I take the brunt of the fall, shielding her from the hard ice.

“Ohhh!” she cries when her head hits my chest.

“Are you all right?” I ask, checking her over.

But she ignores my question, blinking down at me. “No one’s ever said that to me before.”

“Said what?”

“That they’re proud of me,” she whispers. “You really mean it?”

“I do.”

A wide smile takes over her face, and she leans close, her lips brushing my cheek. Her being this close to me has wild thoughts running through my head. Ones of pinning her down right here on the ice and kissing her until she’s forgotten her own name. That and so much more.

I almost do it—almost let go, consequences be damned. But I find it in me to stop myself just in time, instead focusing on getting us both back on our feet.

Raina said in the shop that she never let me go. I believe her, but it’s not the same. My uncle was right. For the past thirteen years, Raina has consumed me. I can’t expect her to match that—especially considering we haven’t even been reunited for an entire day.

She needs time to sort through her feelings. To figure out what’s gratitude and what’s desire. I can’t rush that.

I’d never forgive myself if I did.

. . .

We skate for another hour or so. By then, we’re both tired out and ready to head home. Even though there’s no one here, I can see it in Raina’s eyes that she’s getting overwhelmed. New environments, learning a new skill, not having to appease her father—it’s a lot.

The moment we step into my parents’ house, a chill settles over me. Screams echo through the rooms, telling me to go, to run, to not look back.

Something soft and warm touches my palm, and I almost yank it back before I realize it’s Raina. She clasps her hand in mine and watches me, her brows furrowed with concern.

“You can’t stand being here, can you?”

“It’s… difficult. But I needed to be close to you, and it’s not time to leave yet.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to pull you away from everything that’s familiar to you too quickly. And… there’s something I have to do.”

“What’s that?”

I swallow. “I know I said that I’d only kill Charles if he got too close to finding you. But the more I learn about how he treated you, the more I realize I can’t let him live. Any of them. I’m going to kill them all, Raina. Everyone who’s had a hand in hurting you.”

When she sees the anger burning in me, she doesn’t back away. If anything, the corners of her mouth tip up in a half-smile. “I’d like that.”

I blow out a breath of relief. At every turn, I expect her to finally realize who I truly am, to try to run away from me. But she’s stayed firmly planted by my side, embracing every dark part of me.

“I have one request, though,” she says.

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