ry

sing against my lungs like wet concrete. The chatter of the other pat

hispered again, m

with a hatred so palpable it felt like a physical blow. Then, his gaze flicked to Jonah. The look he gave

low rumble that vibrated through the floorbo

g loudly against the floor. "Watch your tone,

it

ncient, undeniable power. Jonah's knees buckled instantly. He slammed back into his chair, his face twist

hing Jonah's arm, her

a predator. Mr. Madden turned his attention back to me. He looked at

stated, his voice ice-cold and loud en

hitched.

. He simply deliv

reject you, Emery

r for a fraction of a se

nd ripped my soul in half. I screamed, but no sound came out-only a choked gasp as darkness swarmed the edges of m

the invisible weight pinning him

t look back. He walked away with the cold indifference of a king leaving a battle

en

s of the parking garage clos

n, irritating thread I had just severed-snapped back with the force of a

himself against the bars of my mi

f to unlock the car door. My hands were shaking

lf in the silence. But there was no silence. There was only the echo of

. I had cut out the cancer before it

lt like I was

r, waiting for the agony to subside. It didn't. It settled deep in my bo

alked into the main living room, the fire was dying in t

he didn't look up from the book in her lap, but I knew she was aw

y, Aiden," she sai

canter, my hand still trembling slightly. "

unshot. She turned her steel-grey eyes on me. "You rej

aw her with him at the restaurant. He had his arm around another woman, kissing her ri

up, her small frame radiating a power that rivale

ide me pacing aggressively. "He touched he

a said quietly, stepping closer to me. Her gaze was piercing, stripping away my defenses.

fr

ged, red-tinted by my fury. I saw the man. I s

has da

d the oth

ucia whispered, placing a hand on my arm. "Because once tha

nto the dying fire. "I know what I saw," I

silence of my bedroom, I

, a phantom limb I couldn't shake. I closed my eyes, and all I c

ilt in her eyes

t i

, mournful sound that

. The victory I had claimed tasted like ash in my mouth, and for the first t