Page 53 of Shattered Heir
“Yes, but you have to be able to contain your melody. As soon as he knows the truth, Emma, there is no telling what he will do. We all know that he isn't stable.”
“For the record, I don't think this is a good idea,” Ryker said, holding up a hand.
“Me either, but if it is what the Princess wants, we must let her,” Glasson agreed, and I was surprised that he felt that way. Ryker would probably nag me about it after the meeting and try to convince me not to do it.
“That is good.” Keil sat down on a chair in the living room, looking at Ryker. “You should act just as mad as if she were to truly be with him. It will help it look authentic.”
“Well, it will be authentic,” Ryker mumbled under his breath.
“What if she gets into trouble, and she needs a way to protect herself from him?” Mary asked softly, not very happy about the entire thing, but I was grateful that she wasn't against me.
“I will attach a tracking device.” Keil got up, walked to the counter, and picked up some syringe-type thing.
“Uh, what is that?” I asked as he walked over to me. Ryker and Mary walked over to him, seemingly in awe.
“How did you get one of those?”
“What is it?” I asked again, but I was ignored. “You just had this lying around? This seems a bit planned,” I gulped.
“It was very expensive and hard to come by, and yes, it was planned. I assumed that this would be the course of action,” Keil said as he stood in front of me.
“This is a tracking device that I will inject into your arm. It will tell me where you are.”
“So, uh, you're gonna inject me with that thing?”
“It is perfectly safe, Emma,” Mary said with a smile. I looked at Ryker who nodded. I looked to Shad who was still looking out the window. I wanted him, and I needed him back.
“Fine, I will do it.” I pulled my sleeve up and held out my arm. If it could save Shad, if it could get Shad back to me, I would do it. I would do anything to save him.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Iwasn’t looking forward to our new plan. Sure, I agreed to it, and yes, I would try as best I could to see it through, but I was also grateful that I hadn’t seen Cade yet, and it was almost lunchtime.
Small wins!
I walked out of a frustrating math class, where again Karen laid it on thick for Shad. I sat tall, however, and failed at completing my assignment with as much dignity as I could muster. Yeah, there was no way I was going to pass that class. However, I should have known that a Cade-free day was impossible and that I would see him before the day was over. And there he was as I stood in the lunch line to get my Tuesday pizza slice. I loved pizza day.
“Why are you avoiding me?” his thick, cool voice whispered in my ear. I knew it was him behind me before he even spoke because whenever he was near, a chill ran through me as if warning:Stay away!Yeah, even my body knew that he was a predator. If only my melody could get in line. I pulled my melodyback as best I could, but I still felt some parts of it reaching for him.
“Hmmm, I wonder why I would avoidyou? Maybe, so I don’t get locked up in jail for murdering you?” I answered as I plucked the last slice of pepperoni from the tray and placed it onto my plate.Sweet!I hated when I ended up with the cheese pizza.
He laughed, and I wanted to choke him. I was grateful that I had some soul-shielding training because I didn’t want him to know that his soul, actually, Shad’s soul, was beautiful when he laughed. I tried to focus, make my soul obey. If I was with him too long, however, I knew that my soul would reveal all my secrets. At that moment, only a small bit of my melody found his, everything else was shielded.
“You are funny, sweetheart.” His breath made the back of my neck tingle, and I wanted to smack him so hard as the monster rose up, clawing at her cage for a moment.
“Don’t call me that,” I ordered, growling at him. He put his hands up, and I stared into his brown eyes. They were not golden like Shad’s had been, but were closer to the real thing than the eyes that soulless Shad sported as of late.
“So, I guess we are going to play this cat-and-mouse game for a bit longer, eh?” he said as he slid his food tray behind mine, picking up a slice of cheese pizza on his way. I smirked, glad he didn’t get the last slice of pepperoni and that I did. Yes, I was being immature, but he killed my parents, he beat my best friend, and he stole the soul of the boy I loved. He deserved no pizza ever for the rest of his days.
“What are you talking about?” I asked in a whisper, aware that students could hear us in line. Some were already watching us.
“I am talking about the fact that you cannot avoid me forever.”
“I think I can.” I paid for my food and made my way to my usual spot in the cafeteria. Cade was at my heels.
“Sweetheart,” he crooned, coming up beside me, “I know you can’t get me out of your head forever, and I will wait.”
I looked at him with a glare.
