Page 134 of Fangs
“Yes,” he replied immediately. “I told him if I ever heard him say it again, I would kick his ass.”
I tried to swallow past the lump of emotion in my throat. I hadn’t expected that.
“You were avictim.A fuckin’child.”
I tried to turn my head, unable to hold his heated gaze, but his fingers tightened on my chin.
“You are not the things that were done to you, Ember.”
His voice was unbearably gentle. I jerked my chin away, and this time he let go.
“Well, I don’t need you hoverin’ over my shoulder all the godsdamn time. Go do somethin’ else.”
The muscles in his jaw flexed while he stared at me. “I can’t.”
“I don’t care what Wolf ordered you?—”
“It’s not just for Wolf. It’s foryou.” I scoffed, but he cut me off by leaning in even closer. “When you were burning up with a fever in that cave, you sobbed in my arms and begged me not to leave you alone because you were always alone, and you hated it.”
I stared up at him, eyes widening.
“And I’m glad I’m not your brother,” he added even lower, “’cause I think about kissin’ that smartass mouth of yours far too often.”
My eyes flicked to his mouth before I could help myself, my stomach swooping with something I tried to convince myself was horror. His lips curled into a smug smile, and my eyes shot back to his.
“I don’t hate bein’ alone,” I blurted out the lie nervously.
“No offense, Freckles, but I’m more inclined to believe you when you’re delirious.”
“I don’t,” I tried to insist.
“There’s nothin’ wrong with not wanting to be alone,” he murmured, his eyes searching mine. “From what I know, you’ve been alone for a real long time.”
My stupid eyes were filling with stupid tears. “I’m not?—”
“Available?” he finished with a smirk. “For anything?”
“I’m b-broken,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I can’t… I’m not… I tried to tell him—Trey. Iknewhe’d end up d-dead ’cause every…everyone?—”
I pressed my lips together, trying to get control over myself.
“Freckles,” he murmured, shifting to lean on one hand so he could brush my wild hair out of my face with the other. “You don’t have to do that. You’re not gonna scare me off if you cry.”
“Madame shot him right in front of me,” the words tumbled out of my mouth. “She put a gun to his head and told me it was my fault and p-pulled the trigger.”
He stayed still, watching me with those dark eyes, waiting.
“I tried to heal him, but I c-couldn’t. It was t-too late, and he…he was gone, and I can’t… I don’t—” I dissolved into sobs, and Lee pushed off the wall to pull me into his arms.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and tried to muffle my sobs against his chest. He rested his chin on top of my head and held me. I lost track of time as we stood there, but eventually, we started hearing people leaving the canteen and heading to work or home. I lifted my head, alarmed, but he just shuffled us farther into the little alley, turning so his body hid me from view. If anyone looked between the buildings, he would look like a dark shadow leaning against the wall.
“We can—” I started to whisper, frantically swiping at my eyes, but he slid a hand against my wet cheek and into my hair, tilting my head up to look at him. His dark eyes glittered in the dim light.
“No. You don’t have to pull yourself together. If anybody comes down here, I’ll tell ’em to get lost.” My lips parted slightly in surprise, and I saw his teeth flash as he smiled. “I told you you’re not alone,” he reminded me. “Not anymore.”
I stared up at him, desperate to ask but terrified to know his answer. “Do you believe me?” I finally got the words out. “About Dune?”
