Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
“Open the gift, Halen, okay?” It was a plea. A desperate attempt at shutting me out so we didn’t have to have the conversation that we both had ignored since we were old enough to realize.
I wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in my throat.
Envy bloomed beneath my skin like liquid heat.
I knew my cheeks were red, but I didn’t care. Suddenly, I didn’t care if he wanted to ignore it. He and I had never so much as flirted. Never stepped out of line. But I knew that this wasn’t one-sided. That he felt what I did just as much as I did because it couldn’t just be me.
“Halen…” he groaned. It was supposed to come out as a warning, but instead it hit every trigger I had kept hidden inside of me and triggered the sparks that flew across my skin. How could we not say a single word, but both of us knew exactly what the other was thinking?
Fate was a fucking bitch. No doubt he’d fuck her too.
I squeezed the box in my hand. “Do you love her?”
He held my eyes sternly. “I won’t say this again. Ever. And if you repeat it, I’ll fucking lie.”
I held my breath.
“No.” Honestly, I knew that. The day any of the Kings fell in love would be the day I did. Which would be never.
He leaned forward an inch and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. “If I ever fall in love, Halo, there’ll be warning signs.”
I tilted my head, eyes locked on his lips. They were perfect. Soft. I wondered what they tasted like.
Then I remembered he would have kissed her, and jealousy flared to life inside of me.
“Like what?” This was good. Distraction. Do not think of whoever the bitch was.
He spread his legs a little and my focus dropped to his lap before quickly diverting back to his face. Shit. I was screwed when it came to him.
The corner of his mouth twitched before it was gone. “Trust me.” He held my eyes with cool assertion. “You’ll know.”
Before I could ask what he meant by I would know, the door opened and just like that, the conversation evaporated as if it never happened.
Back
I hated that even though the memory of him giving the bracelet to me wasn’t exactly perfect, since he clearly lost his virginity that fucking weekend, I still kept it. Because after all these years, it reminded me of what I was capable of. I’d never felt jealousy like I had that day. Now it reminds me that if I can pet an emotion so aggressive as envy, I could fucking get over anything.
War was one half of my soul. I was sure of it, but we were too similar—too much. We’d destroy one another before we’d allow love in. Neither of us were going to open for what we knew was true, so we’d rip each other apart until we could damn well fucking take it.
I hated that he wasn’t mine first. I’d never admit that. I never would need to, because I was sure I was going to die today. I’d make sure of it.
I wanted to be his last.
My brain was turning hazy as my heart slowed and my foot slipped from the edge of the cliff as I peeked over once more. There was a line of trees that hid in the back, and I squinted my eyes as I noticed a figure appear. Over six foot tall. Even at this age.
His arms fell to his sides as the gun he was holding dropped to the ground. He dashed forward but everything played in slow motion.
I remembered his face paling just as I turned my back to the edge, spreading my arms wide.
Then I let go.
Even with blood on my hands.
Present
I don’t feel the land of his arms when he catches me. Shit… Did he drop me? Am I dead? Did I—no. I couldn’t have. That’s not how this goes, if only it did.
Wait…
Water spills from my lips as my lungs rattle with fluid, and my body rolls to the side in a plea to relieve pressure.
“Hey!”
Voices yell from afar, hands on my cheek—hands everywhere.
So warm.
My lungs corrode as I gasp for air and my eyes fly open onto the shadow of War kneeling over me.
The real War.
This is real.
“Fuck. Halen!” Stella screams at me, falling to her ass and swiping the tears from her eyes. “Goddammit.”
“I’m sorry, Stells.” I rest my hand on her arm.
The misfire of her sob has her exhaling loudly. “It’s not your fault.” She collects herself. “It’s okay.”
Except it isn’t.
War’s arms slip beneath my thighs as he scoops me up from the sand and cradles me against his chest.
He carries me up the steps against the cliff that lead back to the top. “You need to explain everything, Halen. To all of us. I mean it.” His eyes come to mine.