Page 82 of Prey Tell
Her eyes search mine, and I can tell she’s coming to her own conclusions.Not me, Parker. I wish I could. I wish I could give you everything that you want, and more. I’d give you the whole fucking world.
“Okay,” she says finally.
When she takes a step backward, she trips and falls before I can catch her, yelping as she goes down. In a heartbeat, I’m crouching down next to her, helping her up. A cold sweat breaks out along my skin when I see the blood trickling down her temple.
“Fuck, Juliet,” I hiss, pulling her closer, my eyes frantic as I take in her glazed eyes. “Are you okay?” I reach up and push her hair back, seeing the deep red gash on her hairline. “You hit your head,” I murmur.
“It’s fine. I’m fine, Chase—” She practically falls into my arms when she tries to take a step.
I look down and feel the blood draining from my face. “You hurt your ankle,” I growl, dropping to my knees and gently pulling the hem of her jeans up. “It’s already swollen. Fuck,” I mutter, standing up as I run a hand down my face.
Bile rises up my throat when she turns to face me, face bloody and eyes glassy. I look around. We must be a couple miles from the castle at this point. No phone. No way to call for help. My chest rises and falls rapidly as I walk to a nearby rock, closing my eyes to ward off the panic creeping up.
“Chase?”
Her voice is far away, lilted with worry. I’m such an ass. She’s the one hurt, and I can’t get a grip.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Just like when I was a kid.
Just like when Miles almost died.
Just likemy worst fucking nightmare.
I take a couple of steadying breaths.
This is different. I know this land now. Made it a priority to learn it in case my father decided to leave us in the woods again. Rationally, I know we’re a few miles from the road that intersects the forest, and that the castle is behind us. If we don’t turn up, Luna will send someone to come find us. Jackson will organize a search party. Thiswon’tbe like last time.
Itcan’t.
“Chase?”
My arms go out to Juliet’s shoulders. Through the panicked fog, I know how to take care of her. I pull her gently into my body, using her small form to calm myself.Inhale, exhale.I feel my fingers grip her tightly. Hear her murmur something comforting as my heart races inside of my chest, as my stomach lurches, threatening to spill my breakfast all over the ground.Inhale, exhale.Her scent is comforting.Sheis comforting.
“What’s wrong?” she says, and her voice cuts through the panicked fog. Slices right through it. Clear, resolute. “I’m okay. I promise.”
Inhale, exhale.
I quickly and gently pick her up, holding her in my arms and close to my chest. She’s lighter than I thought she would be.
“I can walk,” she mutters, smirking.
But all I see is the blood—dripping into the dirt on the ground. I take another steadying breath as flashbacks whip through me.
“It’s fine. You hurt your ankle,” I answer robotically.Calm the fuck down, Ravage.
She looks up at me with an unsure expression as I walk back in the direction Ithinkwe’re supposed to go. But then she nods and rests her head against my chest as I carry her through the forest like fucking Tarzan.
Never again.
I told myself I’d never go into the forest again, and here I am, breaking all of my rules for her.
CHAPTERTWENTY
THE BLUFF
Juliet
Chase is quiet as he carries me through the woods. I try to adjust myself in his arms so that he can carry me easily. I’m a runner, but I’m not the lightest or smallest person ever. However, each time I move slightly, he grips me tighter, as if he’s trying to hold me as close as humanly possible. Whenever I sneak a glance up at him, he’s scowling and staring at the trail ahead, his jaw rigid and his eyes taking on an empty, faraway look.
