Page 30 of Moon Cursed

“So that I can be with you. It’s you I want, and only you.”

I blew out an exasperated breath, tossing my head. “You don’t even know me.”

“And still I know what it feels like to be in love with you.” Paxton tipped my chin, spreading heat into my cheeks. “I can only imagine how out-of-my-mind obsessed with you I’ll be when I do know you.”

I yanked away. “Stop that. Just stop.”

“Why? What did I do wrong? I mean e—”

“Stop!” I jumped up. “Stop talking like that. Stop saying what he would say! Because when he said it, he actually meant it, and when you say it, you’re playing an angle that I won’t see until it smacks me in the face, so just stop, Paxton!” Tears stung my eyes. “Your smooth words and charm may work on seventy percent of people, but I’m in the group who knows you’ll never measure up.”

He flinched, dropping his hand. “Ouch. I deserve that, but ouch.”

“Whatever.” I brushed past him. “Where’s the medicine? I’m leaving.”

Paxton rose up and crossed to the picnic. If I was in a charitable mood, I would’ve told him it was perfect. A soft, cushy blanket rimmed with candles and laid out under the stars was the perfect first date. He nailed it.

And he’d never hear that from me.

“Here.” Paxton reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a small vial. “This one is yours, and this”—he pulled out another vial—“is mine.” Paxton put both in my hands. “Take them.”

“What are you doing?” I thrust his vial back. “You need this.”

“And I’ll have it when you forgive me.”

I rocked back, brows crumpling. “What? What are you talking about?”

“Keep it, Daze. When you’ve forgiven me— When I’ve earned it,” he stressed, “then I’ll take it, but not before. You think I’m not serious about doing anything to get you back? Well, this is me being serious. This is real.”

I stared at him, the vial, then back to him. “You’ll be in horrible, agonizing pain, Clarke.”

“As much pain as you felt when Orion burned the letters?”

My face shuttered closed. “No.”

“Well then, it’s no less than I deserve.” He sat back and began setting the food out. “And you won’t have to worry about me cheating and sneaking the meds from Nyx behind your back. If this is what it takes to break the plastic man, and give you a mate worth bonding with, I’ll do it.”

“You’ll die,” I dropped, tone blank. “Your wolf will die trapped inside you—too weak to even howl. You can’t possibly think being with a woman you barely know is worth all of that.”

Hard, unflinching orbs pinned me through. “What exactly do you think is waiting for me out there that’s better than a lifetime with you?”

I stiffened, swallowing hard. Why did he keep doing that?Howwas he doing that? Castor said something so similar to me the second time I tried to break up with him, telling him that he was better off finding a girlfriend he didn’t have to hide.

“You think there’s someone out there that’s smarter, kinder, prettier, or more frustrating than you? Because I can burst that delusion for you right now, baby. There’s no one else, and there’s never going to be anyone else, Daze.

“I was born to be with you.”

I let out a slow, shuddering breath, my eyes squeezing shut. Gods, I missed that man more than air. No one else could ever replace him in my heart, so why even try?

“Clarke, just take it.” I set the vial down next to him. “Everyone may call me a psychopath, but that doesn’t mean I want to watch you drown while I stand on deck, dangling the life vest and evil-villain cackling.

“I don’t need to torture you to forgive you, because I’m never going to forgive you.” Sincerity laced my words. “Don’t kill yourself for nothing. This is another game rigged for you to fail.”

To my shock, he chuckled. “You can stop testing me, Volana. We both know you are the kind of psychopath who’ll kick back on your yacht, laughing while I splash, and flail, and beg. So stop fishing to see if I’ll take an easy out. I’ll get that nasty potion when you’ve forgiven me, and not a day sooner. Deal?”

I eyed him, and the hand he held out. I actually wasn’t testing him to see if he’d quit on the first chance... but I was still low-key impressed that he didn’t.

Because who was I kidding? What I was most mad about is that I didn’t think of this torture plan first.

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