My fingers tightened around the phone as the guilt hit me like a brick to the chest.
“I’m sorry,” tumbled from my lips. I knew it didn't make it right, but that was all I could do at the moment.
Lark quickly sat up, swiped at the tear tracks on her face, and gave me a serious look. “You're happy, right? We did the right thing? G-giving you to them? How do you even know them?”
I hesitated before blowing out a long breath then told her about Cal, about waking up in his bed and finding out who he really was.
Lark’s mouth dropped wider with every sentence. By the end, her hands were gripping the sides of her face.
“Oh. My. God. You slept with a Syndicate boss?” Lark squealed.
“I DIDN’T KNOW!” I yelled back immediately. I didn't need her to make a big deal about it because I was already doing that to myself.
She could probably tell I was on the brink because her face softened, becoming empathetic.
“I’m glad he saved you,” she admitted quietly. “I don’t care what anyone says. I’m glad he turned you.” Her eyes shimmered again. “Because I really don’t know what I would’ve done if you died.”
“But I did die,” I replied automatically. Even flashed her a grin and wiggled my brows. Lark just stared at me in horrified silence.
“Still too soon?” I sighed. I couldn't help it. When I was stressed, I needed something as an outlet.
She pointed aggressively at the screen. “Absolutely too soon!”
“Okay, okay,” I laughed. “I’ll retire the death jokes for at least two weeks.”
“Three.”
“Aw, come on!”
Lark sniffed once before chewing nervously on her bottom lip. There it was. That look. The one that meant she desperately wanted to ask something.
“What?” I asked immediately.
Her eyes flicked sideways toward Nathan before she leaned closer to the phone and lowered her voice dramatically. “How was the turning?”
I blinked.
“You know…” she whispered, her voice somehow getting louder. “Theinstinctspart.”
Heat crawled up my neck instantly.
“What?” she hissed. “I’m curious!”
Nathan disappeared from the frame so fast I knew he was trying not to laugh. I dragged my hands down my face before groaning into my palms.
“Girl,” I muttered, peeking at her through my fingers, “it was insane. Still is insane.”
Her eyes widened immediately.
“It felt like…” I struggled for the words while motioning helplessly with my hands. “Like my body stopped asking permission.”
Lark leaned closer.
“The hunger took over, and blood was everywhere. And the…” I coughed awkwardly, looking down without saying, “Everything was on the table.”
Her mouth slowly dropped open.
“I knew what was happening,” I continued quickly, not wanting her to think I was forced or anything even though I technically wasn't all there. “It also felt like something inside me had grabbed the steering wheel and shoved me into the passenger seat.”
