Page 54 of Bite of Passage
Her lower lip trembled.She took a step closer to him.“It doesn’t feel right for me to go back.I don’t want to go.After what happened… Skarde…”
He snarled, “Go back where you belong.”
She reeled back as if he’d slapped her.
Trying to calm his voice, he said, “There’s nothing you can do to help me with whatever new bullshit will happen.Maybe it’s old bullshit to do with the crystals and the demon portal.I don’t know.It’ll be something that leads to humans dying.In the end, I’ll have to handle that twisty bitch who’s downstairs.”
“You don’t have to do it alone.No one saysyouhave to deal with it at all.Here’s a suggestion for you.How about you tell her you’re busy?Ask her to make an appointment.”
“I have to deal with it.That’s what the fucking prophecy is all about.Me.Alone.”He pressed his hand to his forehead.“This is getting out of control.You here… You could’ve really been hurt when Cade took you.”It was all he could muster as his gaze met hers, despair pouring through him.“You could be dead if you had ended up at the Directorate.”
She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms and legs tight around him.With her head buried in his chest, he pulled her into him and held on tight.
He touched his nose to her hair.A deep inhale brought the freshness that was her deep into his lungs.It represented everything good that wasn’t in his life.The wisps of hope she’d given him faded.He didn’t want to lose them, but he had to let her go.
He didn’t want her to leave.He also didn’t want her infected by the putrid parts of his life.
“I’m scared I can’t come back.There are no more episodes.Don’t make me leave you.”She kissed along his neck where she could reach and hugged him tight.
“There’s nothing you can do to help me.”
“You don’t have to shoulder everything.”
“I can’t focus on what’s coming at me with you here.I have to protect you from everyone who’s after you.Cade will be back.And they’ll send Floss, their other punisher.He talks too much, but he’s more dangerous since we don’t have a shared history that makes killing each other complicated.You’re a weakness I can’t afford.You’re a distraction from what I have to do.”The words flew out before he could stop them, before he considered the consequences.
Gemma’s eyes went wide and her head snapped back.
“I’m a weakness?You’d be less distracted if I weren’t here?If I remember correctly, it wasmewho savedyourass.Not once, but twice.”She held up two fingers.“I was also the one who offered to go before you kissed me.Mixed messages, buddy.”
“Gemma—”
She pushed away from him and held up her hand.“Maybe you are better alone.You can be more relaxed and ready to deal with whatever comes your way.You can do it alone.By yourself.Friendless.No one at your side.Not one fucking person around who loves you.”
“Gem—”
“Maybe you needed me to help you have this bit of a break so you could see how much better you are on your own, being all broody and cranky and generally scary.Life’s so much better without any fun or runaway boobs and nipple play, isn’t it?”
He blew out a frustrated sigh and yelled, “I can’t have you tempting me to do what I’ve resisted for decades!You’re a big problem.”
She pressed her lips together.“That’s me, huh?A big problem.”
“It’s not like I can change what I do and what I am.I can’t change the prophecy hanging over me, but I can deny it.I refuse to believe everything has already been decided upon by someone else, especially if that someone is a crackpot witch whose eyeball can talk.I refuse to be a foregone conclusion.I won’t give in and rot in hell.The alternative, watching some other vampire turn you out of a misdirected belief because of something else that crazy witch said is…” He shook his head.Unthinkable.
“You don’t belong here,” he whispered.
She stomped to the mirror.“I’m the complication making your life hell now and probably more so later.I’ll tell you what, I’ll take myself out of your life.You no longer have any need to worry.I won’t be back.”
She stopped in front of the mirror.
Hoarsely, he rasped out, “Gemma…”
With a glance back she whispered, “Everything about this is unreal, but admit you felt more with me than with anyone else you’ve almost-fucked in your life.I do.I feel it.”She stared at his bare feet.“I’m still Team Skarde.Always will be.Minutes ago, what we did was incredible.You can’t take that away from me.I’m taking myself out of the equation so you don’t screw up.I don’t want your soul burning if you bite me.”
She touched the mirror.The magic sucked her through.In an instant, she disappeared.
He ran for the mirror and placed his hand flat to it in hopes it would take him too.The cool, slick surface met his palm.No magic activated.
Gone.
