Page 2 of Bound By Darkness

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

She nods and then wipes her eyes on her sleeve, and I feel like an ass that I don’t reach out and hold her, comfort her.

But I can’t.

And I won’t.

***

EILISH

I feel so weighted by the conversation with Dragan that I begin to cry, much though I don’t want to. I don’t want him to witness my tears because I’m afraid he’ll think I’m weak.

But, to look at him now, makes my stomach turn because everything just seems so… so… unfair!

Even though shadows cling to his skin, he’s… beautiful. His olive skin, his black hair that dusts his shoulders. The angular planes of his face. The dark stubble that decorates his jaw, chin and cheeks. He’s impossibly large and broad, with shoulders that could encompass two men.

His heady, masculine scent wafts around me, filling me with the need to touch him. But then I wonder if this need is real or if it’s my traitorous body making me feel things that aren’t really there?

But then I look up at him and realize I’d be an absolute fool if I believed that.

Everything I feel for Dragan, it’s all real. Genuine. True.

His face is hard, and angry but there’s sorrow in the downturn of his lips.

I grow quiet and he looks over at me.

Our eyes meet and I feel like I’m shrinking inside. I can barely hold his gaze, can hardly bring myself to look into the light gray of his eyes. I’m afraid of what’s in them…

Nothing.

I can remember a time when Dragan was my only ally and protector. He was the only one who cared about me, aside from Flumph. There was something between us then, something strong and beautiful.

And now… now that something has been torn into shreds. Now I have only Flumph.

It’s a truth that makes me want to drop my head and sob.

But I don’t.

Instead, I take deep breaths and talk myself away from my tears. I can’t lose control in front of him. I would die of humiliation.

I look up at him even though I beg myself not to.

He’s talking but I can’t fully pay attention to the words coming from his mouth, instead I’m caught in a memory.

A memory I can’t escape…

“Do you trust me?” I ask Dragan as I look up at him and realize I have to further explain. “Cambion doesn’t trust me.”

“Cambion’s an asshole.”

“But do you trust me?”

He’s quiet for a few seconds. “Yes, I do.”

“I trust you, too,” I say quickly and feel a smile curling my lips. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

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