Page 84 of Heartless Legacy

Leaning closer, his lips graze against my ear. The handle of my knife is in my palm. I slowly pull it out. “I’m glad you don’twant to talk, Rey. I’d rather chase and fuck your terrors out of you.”

He releases me and walks down the path in the opposite direction of Pax and Eloise.

Pax

“You need to stay away from her, Pax.” Eloise hisses as we take our seats.

“Excuse me?” I regret responding, as soon as the words are out of my mouth. I’ve done is give her the opening she wanted, so she can talk shit about Thea.

“Can’t you see the game she’s playing? She’s trying to do the same thing she did with Finn.”

“What is it that youthinkshe did with Finn?”

“She used him to try to embarrass me, and look what happened. It cost him his companion and our marriage contract.” Pity fills her voice as she says, “And he hasn’t been assigned another one.”

She glances at the table for validation. Is that how she’s been spinning this, even after what Holden said to her? Is she really telling people she was the injured party? That she was so affronted by Finn’s behavior that she broke the contract and the reason he doesn’t have a new companion is because he’s being punished?

Finn fucked around for years. So is Thea the straw that broke the camel’s back? If that’s the case, then what does that sayabout Eloise? Why was Thea such a threat and the others were acceptable? Trying to follow that logic, I ask, “How does Holden factor into this? He was spending time with Thea, too.”

“That certainly didn’t do him any favors either. Finn and Holden were led by their lust, but you’re supposed to be smarter than that. Your father has assured me youare smarter than that, Pax.”

I grip my fork. She calls Thea manipulative, but she brought my father into the conversation because she thinks that’s the way to keep me in line. I’m just as ruled by my lust as my friends, but it’s my emotions that are keeping me in compliance with this stupid fucking plan.

I try to stay calm as I point out, “I didn’t actively seek Thea out. You were engaged in a pissing contest with her when I walked up. If you want me to keep my distance, then maybe you shouldn’t get into shouting matches with her in front of the dining hall.”

I say the last part a little louder than necessary, because I know Eloise’s image is important to her, and sometimes threatening it is the only way to get her to back down.

She rearranges her silverware. “I didn’t start anything. She- she has it out for me.”

And for good reason. I wave my hand dismissively. “Whatever, Eloise. Don’t bring her into our life and give her reasons to want to get back at you. Just steer clear of her and you won’t have anything to worry about. If you can’t do that, then there are bound to be more times when I walk up on the both of you going at it, and she’ll use that as an opportunity to come on to me.”

God, I wish I lived in a world where Thea would flirt with me just to spite Eloise. Fuck, I’d be the happiest, horniest guy on the planet if that happened.

Eloise’s jaw clenches as she stares down at her plate. I’ve just tied her hands. She can’t have it both ways. If she truly wants me to stay away from Thea, she needs to stop going out of her way to antagonize her.

Of course, everything I’m saying is bullshit. I have no intention of limiting my exposure to Thea, or stop trying to get a reaction out of her. I’m desperate for any type of contact with her. Even if interacting with her comes with the threat of getting my dick chopped off.

Chapter 52

Thea

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel after what I did to Lazarros’s torture playground. Seeing that place filled me with so much anger. So much rage. I wanted to see it burn, and it did. Now, I feel hollow inside. Maybe it’s because I purged my emotions on that dirt driveway before Wolfe showed up with the gasoline and matches.

Neither of us is worried about someone finding out what I did. Alexz’s people had already blown half the building apart when they rescued me. I did it a favor by destroying the rest of it. I did the world a favor by getting rid of it. Nobody will be enduring any sessions in that place ever again.

With that thought comes a sense of rightness. The first spark of feeling I’ve had all day, accompanied by the sudden motivation to get off the couch and do something. I take a quick shower and throw on something other than the sweatpants or yoga pants I’ve been living in since my return.

I put on some jeans, a graphic t-shirt and my boots. I stash my serrated blades in the harness I liberated from the armory at the west coast compound, and slip my favorite jacket on over it. Checking out my reflection, I’m satisfied with what I see. I look like me, instead of a wraith, yet, not like me. It’s the hair. Theonly dye that remains is at the very tips, but it’s dull, flat, and lifeless.

When I decided to get dressed, it was with no real plan or destination in mind. Now I know what I want to do. Moira picks up on the second ring. “Thea, honey, are you okay?”

“Yes. Yes. I’m okay. Um… I have a question.”

“What is it, honey?”

“Do you have a hair salon that’s safe, that you recommend and takes walk-ins?”

“I do.”

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