Page 46 of Into the Light

“Why, what?”

“Why’d you come back?” she hissed; there was the Maddy I knew. The person who could pretend to be your best friend one moment, yet was constantly preoccupied with her own needs, wants, and desires.

“Because I deserve to be here like anyone else does, Maddy Kensington.” I didn’t owe her an explanation, but I wanted to give it to her because I was so tired of people dragging my name.

She shook her head. “It’s Madison Ryan. I went by my mother’s name for so long.” She shrugged before turning the conversation back on me.

“I can’t believe you told your brother to go after him the night before the bonfire. You couldn’t give him that time to prep.” My jaw was so wide, I swore I could feel the cement with my bottom lip.

“I’m sorry . . . but kindly step the fuck out of the way.” Santiago started to step in front of me, but I threw up a hand, wanting to face her myself.

“No . . . I see you fixed Tana’s mistake.”

She paused for a moment before adding in, “And looks like you moved on to his best friend pretty fast, too.”

Crack.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I struck her square in the nose, the sound of a little crack filling the air, and Santiago snickered next to me. My clenched fist dripped with her blood, and an unexpected fierceness coursed through me.

“What the hell, Ember?” she muttered, her hand going up to her bloody nose.

I was taken aback myself, impressed by my own sudden action. There was no contemplation; it was a pure, instinctive reaction.

“Oops.” I shrugged.

“You’re a bitch,” she yelled onto the otherwise empty street.

“Yeah, just like when you left me alone at the party to get drugged, tattooed, and kidnapped. I’m simply returning the favor.” With that, I took an extra-large step around her and continued walking, not bothering to look back.

I kept moving, my feet propelling me forward, but I couldn’t shake the shock of what I’d done. Santiago quickly caught up to me, and once we were at a safe distance, he erupted into a wild symphony of cackles.

“Ember Solis,” he taunted, pulling me into a side hug.

“I can’t believe I did that,” I confessed, still reeling.

“Me neither.”

“I think I was . . . no, Iamjust sick and tired of people assuming the worst about me, about Ash. I was simply done with it, to be honest.”

“No, don’t mistake my laughter for thinking you did something wrong. I’m genuinely proud of you.”

“In a strange way, I feel like I understand how upset Ash would be about all of this. He’d want to protect me and shield me from it all. But I think I needed to stand up for myself, to learn that I can protect myself, that I deserve that.”

“I agree.”

“It’s kind of ridiculous, considering I’m saying this with my bodyguard right next to me. But I swear, I think this is part of my personal growth journey.”

Santiago grabbed my shoulders, stopping me. His expression was thoughtful. “No, mija. Your path of personal growth is like a winding road, full of unexpected turns and challenges. Embrace each twist and turn, for they lead you to the person you’re meant to become.”

“And Maddy was a bump?”

“She was someone in your past who wasn’t good for you. She probably never was if you really looked back, but it is only now with your eyes wide open that you are able to see her true colors.”

I sat on this statement and then giggled. “Are you sure you aren’t replacing my therapist?” Santiago laughed as we arrived at the apartment complex and walked inside.

“Are you staying here?” he asked as he opened the door to his home across the hallway.

“That’s the plan. I’ll let you know if I decide to go to Rain’s later.” I wasn’t being truthful. I had every intention of heading to Ash’s rock, even though I didn’t want Santiago to join me or list all the reasons it was risky to be off campus, especially during the spring semester. While Ash’s . . . situation technically was allowed because he was off campus, I’d assumed that people would show some restraint this year regarding the bonfire. Of course, that wasn’t the case, and the leader this year was Rain. He would be put in the same precarious position that Ash was in that led to whatever turmoil he’d encountered.

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