Page 19 of Unholy Obsession

My hands curl into fists inside my coat.

Don’t move. Don’t interfere. Whatever’s wrong in her life, you’ll only make it worse. My obsession is meant to be my own curse.

She disappears inside the doors of the club, and my breath releases.

But she’s barely inside ten minutes before she storms back out.

Limping.

Quinn follows, eyes narrowed, mouth set in a hard line. They argue. Moira shouts something sharp, and Quinn lifts her handsin surrender before shoving back inside, leaving Moira alone on the street.

And the moment she’s alone, she absolutely collapses in on herself.

Even though she’s still standing, I see her broken before me again—lost, trembling, pleading.

Lightning splits the sky.

I failed her once.

Iwon’tfail her again.

Before I’ve even made the decision, I’m moving. Already slipping my mask from my pocket and tying it into place across my face. Already crossing the street.

Her tears have mixed with the rain by the time I reach her, but I don’t miss her sharp inhale when she lifts her gaze and sees me.

“You!”

“Me.”

She blinks, water clinging to her lashes, her chest rising and falling too fast. Iseethe moment she registers me. The way her expression wobbles, just for a second, before she forces herself into something sharp, something brittle.

And then I see the bruise blooming across her eye.

My stomach twists.

Who?

I’ll fucking tear them apart.

I will find them. And I willendthem.

But first?—

She’s shivering. Uncontrollably.

“Come with me.” My voice is lower than I mean for it to be, but she doesn’t hesitate.

She nods, eyes wide, and reaches out a hand like she’s a child seeking comfort.

Her trust destroys me.

I take her hand. The moment our skin touches, a shudder runs through her, and I don’t know if it’s the cold or?—

No. She’s freezing. That’s all it is.

After only a few steps, I see again how badly she’s limping.

What the hell am I thinking? Dammit. I can’t make her walk three blocks like this. She’s just an elf of a woman, anyway.

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