Page 42 of Broken Skulls

No, no, no, no. I’ve worked so hard to fortify myself against the world. Again, I begin to panic.

He stands abruptly with me still in his arms. His mouth presses against mine briefly in a peck before he walks us into the trees.

I’m not sure why, but the panic I was feeling slowly begins to recede the farther we retreat into the woods. He slows his step, looking around. When he spots a tree with large branches, he sets me on my feet.

“Come on,” he says, waving for me to follow him. He has a big grin on his face.

It makes my shoulders drop in relief. He’s not upset with me.

I follow him over to the tree. He clasps his fingers together, making a step for me to climb up.

“I … I couldn’t.” I back away from him.

He chuckles. “But you want to.” He wags his eyebrows in my direction.

My cheeks tighten, and I purse my lips together, hoping to stop myself from smiling. He’s making it almost impossible. I want to be mad about it, but I’m finding that’s also something that’s getting harder and harder to do.

“Fine,” I sigh, stepping toward him and placing my foot in his hands.

Jacob gives me a little push as he lifts me up onto the branch. I grab hold, turning myself to straddle it. I let out an embarrassing little squeak. It’s higher than I thought.

He jumps, easily pulling himself up beside me.

“You didn’t tell me you were a tree ninja,” I say unsteadily as I struggle to get my bearings.

He scoots close, only stopping when our knees touch. His big hand presses against my chest. “Breathe,” he reminds me gently.

I lock eyes with him and take a deep breath. After a few inhales, I begin to relax. This brings a smile back to his face.

It makes me feel …stop, you’re being stupid. It’s fleeting.

That’s right. None of this is real. Eventually he’ll see me the way everyone else does.

“Why aren’t you repulsed by me?” I hear myself ask.

The question surprises him. He frowns.

I don’t like it.

“Elizabeth, you are not the sum of other people’s thoughts.”

He reaches out to grab my arm as I falter on the branch. His statement hits me like a ton of bricks. I ruminate over it in my mind. His big hands hold my arms securely as I process what he’s saying.

“They were just thoughts?” I whisper.

He nods his head. “They were just thoughts, Elizabeth.”

“They weren’t tangible.” I drop my head, staring at the ground.

He kisses the top of my head. “Someone may have broken you on the outside, but it was impossible for him to break your soul. Your soul is unbreakable.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’ve seen it time and time again. There are people in my club who’ve suffered more than I can imagine, but they’re still here, kicking ass and taking names. You …” He pushes me back, forcing me to look at him. “You, you are still here, kicking ass. Now, let’s take some names. Mr. Baxter’s to be exact. I’m going to bring him to you.”

My heart begins to beat fast at his name, and I sway on the branch. I reach out, gripping tightly onto Jacob, wide-eyed.

My throat tightens at the very prospect of seeing him again. A sickness begins to rise up my throat. I begin shaking my head frantically. Nothing, not even the way people have treated me all these years, is worse than what he did to me. Things I will never, never speak of. I don’t even let them ferment in my mind. It’s the reason life has been so exhausting. Keeping it all locked away in a little compartment of my consciousness while at the same time allowing myself brief glimpses. Just enough to remember why I was risking everything to protect her at all costs.

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