Page 21 of Unmask
Fucking ice.
Her entire body went rigid, her face locking down so fast it made my stomach drop.
And what a freaking face. I knew I had very little time, so my eyes drank up the unobstructed view of her, greedierthan I wanted to admit. Where there had once been heat and something dangerously close to love, there was now only frost in her eyes. No trace of warmth.
Her full pink lips turned down, and I wanted to kiss them like a starving man, like I dreamed about every goddamn night since. Regret burned through me like acid—regret, need, something deeper I didn’t want to name yet. It all surged up so fast I froze. Forgot what I was doing there. Forgot the plan, the lies, the betrayal. All I saw was her, and all she saw was the one person she never wanted to see again.
It had been days since she walked away from me, but it felt like months, like someone had toyed with the hands on the clock, stretching time just to fuck with me. Standing here and seeing her again… It hit me like a sucker punch to the chest.
Get a fucking grip, man.
I closed the door behind me, bolting the lock. “Hey, little raven.”
6
KAYLOR
And to think I thought I might never hear that nickname again.Little raven.The way his voice curled around the two words did ungodly things to my insides. How annoying and surprising was the fact that he stood in front of me. “What is this? Why the fuck are you here?” I meant for it to come out cold, biting, but it didn’t hit as hard as I wanted. Not when I looked at him and the ground beneath me was suddenly unsteady.
Kreed didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, staring at me like he was trying to memorize every inch of my face as if he wasn’t sure I was real.
I understood the feeling. My eyes, despite my brain telling them not to devour him, did just that. From his head to his toes and back up, I took in the state of his appearance, the black hoodie and jeans, the two tiny scars under his eye, the tattoos on his hand and fingers, and the stud twinkling on the side of his nose, as well as some added features like the dark circles under those silver eyes. Only Kreed could make being tired and haggard hot.
“Did they touch you?” he asked, voice low.
I blinked, wondering what the hell he was talking about. My brain could only come up with one conclusion, but it made no sense to me. “Who? Do you mean Rusty?”
His jaw clenched so tight I could practically hear the pressure crack in his teeth.
Ew. What the hell?“Why would you think Rusty would touch me?” I asked, wondering what was going on in his head.
“Did he?” he demanded again, danger shimmering behind his eyes.
Jesus. “No. What the fuck is this, Kreed?”
The way his eyes fluttered closed at the sound of his name made my heart flutter in spite of myself. Like hearing me say it hurt and healed him at the same time. “Say it again,” he said, opening his eyes, locking on to mine.
I still hadn’t figured out why the sound of his name affected him, but it only seemed to be when I said it, giving me an edge over him. However, Kreed showing up put a wrench in my revenge plot, which consisted of just the thought of revenge with no details. I wasn’t prepared to see him. Somehow, his face destroyed all my damn walls. It wasn’t fair. A face alone shouldn’t have that kind of power. “Not going to happen.” I folded my arms across my chest, trying to contain the whirlwind in my gut.Get a hold of yourself, Kay.“And not that it’s any of your fucking business, but I’m not staying with Rusty. I left.”
His whole body seemed to exhale as if I’d released something inside him just by saying those words. “Good.” Relief descended into his features.
Had he believed I’d been hurt? Emotions twisted in me that I didn’t want to examine. It didn’t explain why he would give a shit. I wasn’t his problem anymore. Perhaps that was the relief I was seeing.
“What’s going on?” I asked warily, then immediately shook my head. “Wait. No. I don’t want to know.” I stepped around him toward the front door, but of course, he blocked me, his frame planted between me and escape.
Kreed didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. Just watched me with that maddening calm, one hand braced against the door frame. “Not gonna happen, little raven. You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that easily, did you?”
My heart skipped, but I refused to acknowledge that he made me feel anything but rage. “I thought I made it clear I never wanted to see you again.”
He took a step closer, slow and deliberate, like every inch of ground he reclaimed was his by right. “Too bad. You wouldn’t listen to me that night, so you’ll hear me out now.”
My gaze cut to Poppy. She stood frozen by the wall, guilt written all over her face. “What the hell is this?” I breathed, betrayal wrapping around my heart.
Poppy’s expression fell. “I’m sorry. After Friday night?—”
“You set me up,” I lashed out at Poppy, and although I was hurt that she’d brought the damn enemy to where I was hiding, it was Kreed I was truly pissed off with. I understood how she’d be worried, and I’d been ignoring my phone in fear that every message or call might be a Corvo. Especially one in particular. Look where that got me. He was here in the flesh, which was so much worse than a call or a text.
Poppy flinched. “I was worried, and Kreed was the only way I could make sure you were alive.”
