Page 28 of Entangled

“She wouldn’t even be with you except for your stupid fucking deal.” His next hit catches me hard on my cheekbone. “She’s just traded one cage for another.”

And if that doesn’t piss me the fuck off.

We weren’t like the hunters. Edenalwayshad a choice.

So why does something about the parallel hit all fuckingwrong?

With a low growl, I slam him backwards and Jasper pulls his legs out of the way with a hiss, getting back to his feet. Jayk and I lay into one another, cursing and grunting between hits.

And it feels good.

It feels good to hurt and burn and have a fucking tangible target for two minutes, instead of chasing ghosts. It feelsgoodto bleed and feel on the outside what’s been cutting me up for days.

“Asshole.” He hits me hard enough to make me dizzy.

“Dick,” I spit back, smashing an elbow into his back.

I’m just getting the edge on him—I think—when a cascade of cold-ass water crashes down over my head. Jayk reels back too, spluttering.

We both turn to glare at Jasper, who is refastening the lid on his canteen with short, clipped motions. He raises one eyebrow at us, back to his usual composure.

“You’re behaving like children,” Jasper says with mild disapproval. “Now, if you’d both like to rediscover your remaining brain cells, perhaps we can get back to some common ground?”

Jayk and I both flip him off, panting heavily.

Jasper gives us a withering look. “Oh yes,hilarious. Very amusing.”

Jayk snorts, sneaking a look at me, and I feel an answering scoff of laughter. And when Jasper’s disgruntled look darkens further, both of us startlaughing.

It comes like a tide, washing up over the tension, fear, and anger of the last week—and I can’t stop it ripping out of me. I catch sight of Jayk, his shoulders shaking with almost silent, snorting convulsions, an actual grin slapped across his swollen, bloodstained face.

Jasper sighs, soundingdisappointed, and it sets me off again, until I’m bent over and gasping for air. Until it feels like the bands that have been strapping my chest tight are finally worked loose.

When I can finally control myself, I pull myself up, then stare down at Jayk.

He looks up at me, his rare, reluctant chuckles easing as he sobers. He’s covered in dirt and grass and blood. He’s swollen and purpling up as I watch... but there’s the same slight looseness to his shoulders that I feel in mine. The same relief behind his eyes.

I try to think of the last time I saw Jayk laugh like that, and I can’t.

I wipe my sweaty forehead with my arm, then reach out a hand. Jayk stares at it, his grin fading.

Finally, he takes it, and I help him to his feet. He moves to pull away, but I hold pressure on his arm.

“She ended the deal,” I tell him. “As soon as we get her home, Eden’s free to do whatever she wants.”

I remember the exhilaration on her face when she told us she was ending our arrangement. Her quiet pride when she said she wanted more than just sex.

It made me want to give it to her.

Jayk goes stone faced, staring at me.

“She ended it?” Jasper asks softly. When I glance up at him, faint surprise paints his features. Then a slow, quiet approval. “Good for her.”

I look back at Jayk. After a long moment, he shrugs. It looks stilted. “Whatever.”

“Whatever?” I repeat, cocking a brow, and he scowls.

“Yeah, whatever.” He turns and picks up his pack. “Not like she was ever going to stick around long anyway.”

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