“That's also why I got you a show,” he goes on. “At a gallery downtown. Whenever you're ready.”
Anger surges through me, hot and bright. How dare he presume to know what's best for me, to make decisions about my life and my art.
It's just like Marisela all over again, pretending to care while secretly plotting to control me. The sour taste of bile rises in my throat at the thought. No, I won’t let myself be fooled again. Trusting others only leads to pain. “I don't want your pity showcase, Kai. I'm not some pet project for you to parade around.”
He’s trying to trap me. Bribe me into staying. But I won’t be forced to spend time with my steps.
Though fuck him for pulling out all the stops on what I want. He knows me too well and it borders on scary.
“It's not pity,” he says, his voice low and fierce. “It's belief. In you, in what you can do.” He takes my hand, his touch searing. “You have a gift, Cinder. Don't let your pride stop you from sharing it.”
I yank my hand away, my skin burning. “My pride is all I have. It's what's kept me alive, kept me fighting. I won't let you take that from me.”
Kai's eyes soften. “I'm not trying to take anything from you. I'm trying to give you a chance. To show the world who you are, what you're capable of.”
I turn away, my throat tight. The temptation is so strong. To take what he's offering, to let myself believe that I could be more than a servant, more than a survivor.
But it feels too easy. Too good to be true.
“I won't interfere,” Kai says quietly. “The studio, the show. . . they're yours. What you do with them is up to you.”
I don't respond. I can't. If I open my mouth, I'm afraid all my secrets will come spilling out.
It's everything I've ever wanted - someone who believes in me, who supports my dreams without trying to control me.
The bitter voice in the back of my mind won't be silenced. It whispers insidiously, reminding me of all the times I had dared to hope.
“If you are trying to convince me to stay in Midnight, you are fucking up real bad.” I run my hand over the smooth wood of the easel. “Because all I want to do is hide in here.”
“This isn’t the real thing I wanted to show you,” he says, slipping his hands in his pockets. “ But if this is a refuge and convenient hiding place you can use it for that.” Kaison gives me a lopsided smile. “After you come see the real thing I want to share.”
Something is clawing under my skin and burrowing its way into vital organs. Gratitude? Attachment? No matter what it is, I can’t trust it.
Kai sighs. “We should get to Midnight. Before we're missed.”
Numbly, I follow him out of the studio and to my apartment trying not to love every single fucking thing he’s just given me.
Trying not to lovehim.
It’s just another reason to leave the whole situation. We were never going to end up together. The agreement is going to come to an end whether it’s now or later.
The only reason I agree to return is because I need to get my stuff. I’m not leaving my grim reaper doll for anyone, and iron supplements are expensive as shit. I’ll go, get my stuff, and let him make his final plea before I peace out to the Common World, never to look back again.
As we slip on the glass slippers, preparing to return to Midnight, a black streak comes hurtling out of nowhere.
Lucifer attacks with a vengeance, yowling and clawing. I cry out, trying to fend him off, but it's too late. The world tilts, reality bending around us.
We land in a heap on the cold stone floor of the castle. Lucifer hisses once more before darting off into the shadowy corridors.
I lay there, my heart racing.
“You okay?” Kaison asks.
“Yep,” I say popping my ‘P,’ not bothering to hide my irritation.
“The cat kind of sucks,” he confesses with a grumble.
“Guess pussy doesn’t love you as much as you thought it did.”
