Page 58 of Catalyst

“I’ve gotcha, baby girl.” His murmur was low and raspy, causing my stomach to flip. “Lean on me as much as you need.”

I melted into him, allowing his presence to swallow some of my nerves as we moved toward the looming entrance of Gianna’s mansion. It felt like it took us an eternity to get to the front door, and by the time we reached the impossibly tall oak doors, my breath came in shallow, visible puffs. Just like the ones normally reserved for winter.

“I thought the medicine was supposed to be helping,” Kane commented as he knocked on the door.

His words mirrored my thoughts, and Ireallydidn’t need to hear that right now. The door creaked open, stopping my thoughts before they could spiral further.

Gianna stood in the doorway, but she lacked all the warmth she had the last time we met. This time, her expression was tight, unimpressed, maybe a little irritated at the fact I’d shown up again. Which, again, was fair.

“Kane… You’re late.” Her lips barely moved, flicking toward me before refocusing on her son. “I thought we were going to discussfamily matters.”

“We are… I broughtherfor Shin.”

“Or—I could go sit in the car if you don't want me in—”

“Calista! You came,” Vexxas called as he stepped into my line of sight.

He was dressed in a navy polo that hung from his lithe frame. Between that and the cargo shorts… he didn't seem as intimidating as he did last week. Maybe it was just because we were here in the daylight.

He quickly approached us, shoving Gianna out of the way before wrapping me in a tight embrace. I froze, expecting to be reduced to ash any minute. So much for Kane not letting anyone hurt me.

But, as I held my breath, trembling in his arms… I didn't disintegrate. I didn't even feel uncomfortable. Instead, I felt…comforted, weirdly. I took a deep breath, wrapping my arms around him as some herbal smell I couldn't place filled my nose.

He pulled away, and that’s when I noticed the strange, leather gloves that covered his thumb, pinky, and palm.

“Oh, you're so beautiful,” he said, cupping my chin as he smiled down at me.

I blinked twice. Maybe hehadkilled me. That was the only way that this would make sense. But, as the strangely comforting warmth of his hands sunk into my skin… I realized this was real.

A lump formed in my throat as I imagined this meeting in a different timeline—one where Sulien brought me here on his arm, and we told his dad about Sawyerexactlylike we planned to do directly after the showcase.

“You…. you look likehim.” I fought through the words as my eyes began to burn.

Shin’s smile faltered for a moment, replaced by something softer, more somber. He reached up, wiping away a stray tear with his thumb before looping his arm in mine.

“You come with me. Kane has his family; I want time with mine.”

I expected Kane to protest, or to at least follow me. But he let go, allowing Shin to tug me through the house. The low heels on my shoes clicked against the marble flooring as Shin dragged me into a room that felt like it was taken directly out of a history book.

Wine-colored chairs surrounded a circular coffee table, and a cold fireplace sat in the background. Shin guided me to sit before beaming down at me.

“You look hot… Are you hot?” Shin asked, each word coming faster than the last.

“I… uh, yeah, a little.”

His lower lip jutted out as a look of concern crossed his face. “You sit–I’m going to go get a few memories and some things to cool you down.”

Before I could protest, Shin was gone, leaving with far too much energy for someone who’d allegedly been deathly ill just months ago… But again, the constantgo go goreminded me of Sulien. I let out a sigh as I leaned into the armchair, closing my eyes as I rubbed the curve of my stomach.

Sawyer wasn’t moving as much today, and I wondered if the heat was getting to him too. I hoped it wasn’t, but then again, considering I was already on suppressors, there wasn’t much I could do. My head suddenly felt heavy, leaving me to tip it back into the velvet of the chair. Just as my body started to tingle, something cool and damp hit my forehead.

My eyes snapped open to see Shin staring down at me, mumbling something in a language I didn’t understand as he pressed a rag to my skin. His brows were furrowed in a look of complete and utter concentration, one that shattered the second he noticed me looking at him.

“You’re too hot,” he said, taking a step back. “Isn’t Kane helping you? Or Jace, for that matter?”

The concern in his voice caught me off guard. And, if I didn’t know any better, I’d sayVexxaswas actually worried about me.

“I… they don’t need to help me. I’m okay.” I forced a smile as I sat a little straighter.

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