Page 101 of Cold Hard Truth

Lyla

The door to mybedroom swings open, and Sage steps inside without knocking. We’ve breached so many barriers in the last few days, that’s simply another one that doesn’t exist.

I’m not even sure why I’m back in here when I know I’ll end up in his bed later. It just felt like I needed some space to think after seeing the wings. My stomach might as well be filled with lead because my insides are so heavy.

“I could have been changing,” I say, like that would matter to him.

He shrugs. “Guess I’m out of luck then.”

When he drops down onto my bed, the weight of his body shifts the mattress and messes up my tarot cards.

Looking up at him, I frown.

“This isn’t going to give you the answers you’re looking for.”

“And you will?” I purse my lips.

“What answers do you want?”

I look into his dark brown eyes, fanning my deck out. “Pick a card, Sage. I just need one more.”

On any other day, he’d roll his eyes. He would argue this is ridiculous. But today, he reaches forward and picks one, flipping it over.

“Ace of cups.” I would laugh if it weren’t so ironic.

Possibility. Hope. Something on the verge of blooming if it could only have the chance. Sage and I are finally finding our way together, right when it feels like we’ll be inevitably torn apart. Good things never last and they always have the worst timing.

I’m staring at the spread, but no matter how many ways I look at it, I’m always told the same thing. That being with Sage is the best outcome at the worst time. Maybe if we were different people with different fates, this could all play out how I want it to.

“Aren’t you going to read my fortune?” Sage asks, even though I know he doesn’t believe in it.

I shake my head. “Maybe another day.”

Stacking the cards into a pile, I set them on my nightstand and lean back against the headboard, burying my face in my hands. But Sage grabs me by the waist and tugs me into the middle of the bed. His chest is to my back as he buries his face in my hair.

“Did you tell Kane about the package?” I assume that’s why he disappeared to make a phone call when I said I was going tomy room.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“He’s sending one of the guys to come pick it up this afternoon.”

If I could just pause time maybe I wouldn’t spend so much of my life feeling like I’m holding my breath.

“I guess that’s it then. We know it’s the same person if they used the whole wing reference.” I cling to Sage’s arms when he tightens them around my waist. “Like Ellie’s ear wasn’t enough.”

His body tenses at my comment, and I roll to face him. So much works in his dark eyes that they might as well be playing tricks on me. Time moved on but I haven’t. I’m still the girl who has only ever wanted to be his.

It’s absurd to think I’m safe with everything going on, but in Sage’s arms, I know he’d never willingly let anyone get to me.

“You haven’t asked me what happened when I was taken,” I say as he brushes my hair from my face.

“You’ll tell me when you want to.” He kisses my forehead. “Ifyou want to.”

“Sometimes I think I don’t even remember all of it.” I close my eyes, and my mind sets itself between those four concrete walls. “But I remember Ellie. I remember promising her we’d get out of there when she started to fade. I was lying to both of us.”

Blinking my eyes open, Sage is watching me, but he isn’t saying anything. He just listens and holds me.

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