Page 276 of Midnights
What the fuck!
For a split second, everything is numb, before it comes back to life all at once.
I gasp, stumbling back.
“What the fuck!” I shriek, shoving my dripping hair out of my face as I spin around.
And there he is, standing there with a bucket in his hand. A fucking bucket and a smirk.
“Magic,” he says smoothly, entirely too pleased with himself.
He’s so lucky I’m not holding a weapon right now.
“Are you serious?” I wipe at the freezing water dripping down my arms, trying to stay calm. “What the hell was that for?”
Cam shrugs, completely unfazed. Which only pisses me off more. I wish I could have more of his zero fucks attitude.
“You were getting out of control,” he says simply. “Sometimes, you just need a cold shower to get your mind off things.” Then, the smirk widens, and his voice dips into something else. “Or, you know… offsomeone.But I can’t give you that.” He taps his temple. “I like my head where it is, remember?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
I glare daggers at him, torn between strangling him and laughing despite myself. Damn him. My body is still shaking, but the burning frustration from earlier has dulled significantly.
I shake my head, still shivering. “You could’ve just saidcalm down,you know.”
Cam chuckles, rolling his eyes. “Would that have worked,Princess?”
My mouth snaps shut… damn it. I hate that he’s right.
I also really don’t want to end up unconscious for another three days. So, with an annoyed sigh, I give in. “Fine. Point taken. But don’t call me that.”
His laughter deepens, and the look on his face is pure trouble. “No promises.”
I roll my eyes but don’t bother hiding my smile. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll try again,” I say, rubbing my arms, covering up a shiver. “But if you dump water on me again, I swear—”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
Smug bastard.
“You know,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “My grandfather used to make me swim in freezing water, so I’m kinda used to it.” I wring out my soaked sleeve, sighing dramatically. “But at least give a girl some warning next time, so I can, you know, dress for the occasion. Maybe bring a towel. A wetsuit. Emotionally prepare.”
He chuckles, and for the first time today, I feel some of the tension ease from my body. I look at him and see that all his amusement is gone. His entire posture changes, and his jaw tightens.
“Why would he have you do that?”
I hesitate, shifting on my feet. The lingering chill from being wet is nothing compared to the sudden chill crawling down my spine from the way he’s looking at me.
“When I was younger,” I say carefully, testing the words as they leave my mouth, “I'd swim laps in this freezing-ass lake. He said it was part of training, but…” I shrug, forcing a lightness I don’t feel. “Never got my gold medal for swimming.”
He doesn’t say anything, but I see a flash of something dangerous across his face before he drags a hand through his hair.
“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, shaking his head. “They knew.”
“Umm hello?” I wave a hand in front of his face, trying to snap him out of whatever spiral he’s just plummeted into. “They knew what? Care to share with the class?”
I can feel the irritation creeping right back in. I am so fucking done being kept in the dark and I'm not letting him leave until he gives me some answers. His eyes snap to mine, like he’s piecing together something I can’t see.
“I’m assuming you were your usual charming self, back then, too.”
