Page 139 of Traitor

"I wouldn't dare dream of more, my fiery Temper." I hold out my hand, daring her to pull it back again. "Now give me the damn cake."

She eyes me for a moment longer before reluctantly handing over the plate.

"Enjoy. Let's hope it's better than the coffee I gave you that one time," she smiles sweetly at me.

Ah, fuck. I'll eat it anyway. It's from her.

I take a big bite, watching her the entire time, making sure she sees the way my tongue swipes over my lower lip.

"Delicious."

Her arms cross over her chest, unimpressed. "I know. Mama's a great baker."

I chew slowly, savoring the taste, but mostly savoring this — her standing here, talking to me like it's normal.

She turns slightly, looking out into the night. I don't talk. It's clear she needs a moment to gather her thoughts.

A few moments of silence pass before she speaks again, her voice quieter. "Ria told me this whole thing was your idea." She doesn't look at me, just keeps staring out at the dark. "I actually wanted to thank you for that. I may want to murder you half the time, but I didn't realize how much I needed to be around people again."

My voice is soft when I answer. "You don't have to thank me, Temper. You always get too much inside your head about things. You just needed to breathe for a bit."

She doesn't respond right away. Then, finally, she turns, and I see it.

Sadness.

Deep, aching sadness.

Her voice is barely a whisper when she says, "Do you know why I actually hate you the most, Bones?"

I brace myself. "Tell me."

She exhales shakily. "It's not because of the tattoo." Her gaze flickers to my throat. "It's not even because you sent me back. It's because we were so good together. So fucking good. And you destroyed it all in minutes." She swallows hard, her eyes burning. "I don't even hate Jinx as much. Because he never showed me kindness. With him, it was always bad. But you—" Her voice wavers. "You showed me the best kind of love before you showed me the worst kind of betrayal."

Fuck.

I feel the cake turn to lead in my throat. Sick. I feel sick.

I open my mouth, but I have nothing. Nothing that can make this better.

"I'm sorry," I finally whisper, and the words feel hollow.

She shakes her head. "You keep saying that. But it doesn't make the bad feelings go away."

Before I can think, before I can stop myself, my fingers brush against her cheek. Just for a moment. Just to feel her warmth.

For a split second, she leans into it.

And then she's gone, stepping away, putting distance between us.

"I wish..." my voice breaks and I have to clear my throat. "I wish I could turn back time. I wish I could heal all your wounds with just a snap of my fingers. I wish I could make your soul whole again with just the spill of my blood."

I swallow hard. Her face is unreadable, but her hands tighten into fists at her sides.

"If wishes ever became truths," I continue, my voice raw, "you would never have known pain. Betrayal. Just happiness. But I'm just a fucking man. And I can'twishfor anything. I can onlydo. And I swear, Temper, on my fucking life, I will do everything and anything I can to heal those wounds. I know it's impossible to heal them without scars remaining. But, after all these years, you're still bleeding, my fiery Temper. And I will do everything in my power to stop that. To stop the bleeding."

She doesn't move.

Doesn't blink.

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