Page 185 of Ink Deep Devotion

I know who you are! I’m trying to speak. I will; just give me a second.

Huge arms scoop me up; he presses my cheek to his chest like his touch is the glue that is supposed to help put me back together again.

Oh no!Instead of keeping me whole, I shatter. My tears escape and begin to soak his shirt. The heat of his muscles warms me, making all the numbness fade away. I feel now. So, so much, all the sore muscles, the bruises, the blood on my hands.

“Is she hurt?”

“She hasn’t spoken, but she looks okay.”

“Give us a minute.” Cillian orders. The officer leaves.

My world is shaking. No, it’s me. His muscles tighten,

“I’m going to set you down,” he says; his voice is so deep he can’t sound gentle.

My feet touch the floor, but his hands hold me up, gently patting my body, searching for injuries.“Please tell me you’re okay?”

“I wish we were back in Silverstone,” I whisper. His eyes were always so caring and cautious around me back then. Then he just vanished, as Dash did.

Why didn’t Cillian attend Empire? Would things have been different if he had?

“I wish you taught me how to fight. I wish your absence gave me a tool I could have used."

His eyes narrow with concern. They feel like a blanket wrapping me up. “I can teach you now.”

I shake my head, “It’s too late. I learned the hard way.”

“It’s never to late, Mila.”

“I killed him.” I continue, my chin wobbles, but my tears dry up.“I killed someone, Cillian. It didn’t happen as I planned it. I mean, it did, but it didn’t. He didn’t die right away. It wasn’t fast. He groaned. He wanted help, but I couldn’t help him. So I had to shoot him again. I had to do it again, and you know what? I would do it again because I was trying to get back to you all. I need to tell you what happened.”

Cillian says nothing.“Are you upset that I killed someone?” I press.

“No,” he cups my face; warm eyes make me feel like I’m not alone for the first time in weeks.

“I thought you all were trying to cage me, but I understand you were just trying to protect me. But, Cillian, you all forget that there is a key that can open the cage, and sometimes a more dangerous monster finds that key. She found me and I knew she was coming for us all.” his eyes narrow as he leans closer.“So I tried to trick her; I allowed her to take me, teach me, mold me. I just wanted to help. I wanted you all to see me not as someone who needed saving but as someone who could save you. Do you think Dash will see it that way?”

“We will talk about this later. We need to leave.” He pulls me closer to him.“Dash is on his way, but it’s going to take him a few hours before his plane arrives.”

“He’s alive?”

He stills,“Yes,”

“Oh, thank God!” Reaching out, I grab his shirt.“Listen to me, Cillian. You need to go back and find Camilla. You need to kill her! She’s going to destroy it all. She wants to bring downThe Rites of Passage. You need to find her. She’s searching for Damian…”

“Shhh,” he stops me.“Just stay calm. We will talk once we get back home.”

Home. Where is my home now?

“But you need to stop her! I lied to her because I knew she was going to hurt you all. I wanted to try to save you. I tried.”

“Mila,” Cillian takes me by the shoulders. “You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. Let’s go.”

“I sound crazy. You don’t believe me.”

“I do. Just not here.” He looks at the cells surrounding us.“Let’s go.” He grabs my hand and tugs me through the police station towards the emergency exit. Night creeps over our skin as we walk through the parking lot.“We’ll talk in the car,” Cillian says. His hand behind my back hugs me closer to his huge frame.

Three SUVs are waiting; the engines are running as armed men stand outside, waiting to carry us to safety.

---