Page 64 of Shadow

“Sirena will be leaving immediately. I’ve made the necessary arrangements for her to stay with me while she works through her own things. She has decided…” he looked at me and cocked his head left again, a faraway look in his eyes. He finally nodded and addressed the guys again. “She has decided that she was here last, and because she was not originally part of the Watchers, it is in her best interest to leave so that your lives can remain intact and you all together as it always was.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Church shouted.

Stitches stepped away from the door, panic on his face. Ashes’s hand went wild as he flipped the lid on his lighter open and closed on repeat. And Sin… he simply stared, horrified at me.

“It means she’s stepping away. I believe it’s what’s referred to as a breakup,” Asylum said calmly.

Church moved like lightning. One moment, there was a couch between us, and the next, he had me shoved against the wall, his hand gripping my face painfully.

“You arenotfucking leaving me,” he rasped. “You want out? Then you fucking die to get it, but you aren’t walking out that fucking door on me. You fucking promised me.You promised.”

I tried to push him off, but he slammed me back against the wall.

“No,” he said, his voice cracking. “Don’t do this. Don’t force my hand…not like this, Sirena. I don’t want to hurt you…please don’t make me.”

I reached out and cradled his face. He closed his eyes, a tear slipping past his long lashes.

“I have work to do,” I whispered softly, my voice trembling. “Let me.”

He opened his eyes and stared into mine, his bottom lip wobbling.

I dragged him in and kissed his soft lips. He didn’t take control of me like he usually did. Instead, he allowed me to lead us. After a moment, I pulled away from him and stared into his eyes.

“I have to do this for us. Take care of Sin. Take care of my sister. They both need you right now. If anything happens to them, I’ll die. Promise me. I need this, Dante. Please. Let me go… find myself. It’s the best time for it to happen. I’ll come back once things are better. Promise me you’ll take care of my sister. Please.”

He let out a shaky breath and nodded.

“I promise. You swear to me you’ll come back?” he asked, his voice trembling with his words.

“I will always come back to you,” I whispered.

He closed his eyes again before breathing out once more. His grip on my body lessened before his touch fell away completely, and he stepped back.

We stared at one another for a moment. Everything in his eyes told me what I needed to know. He trusted me. He believed I knew what was best.

I stepped past him, Asylum following me.

“Sirena?” Ashes choked out as I walked to the door. I gave him a sad smile.

Stitches caught my hand and stopped me.

“Are you really doing this? You’re leaving us?” he whispered.

I hooked my pinky with his and brought our hands to my lips, where I pressed a kiss to our joined digits.

“Take care of Sinful while I’m gone,” I murmured.

He visibly swallowed but nodded wordlessly for me before I released his hand. I pulled open the door, but not before I looked back at Sin, who was now on his feet and staring at me. So many emotions crossed his face as we locked eyes.

I hoped he knew I would do anything for him.

This was me proving that.

I turned away from him and walked out the door, Asylum following.

“I got you a hatchet,” he said calmly as we walked. “I thought we might start practicing with it.”

I smiled at that, allowing my monster to peek its head out.

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