Alex appeared with a stick and a perfect marshmallow. “Amelia, want to roast one?” His smile was easy, light. I forced one back at him. “Sure.” I took the stick and held the marshmallow over the blaze, watching it swell, then blacken at the edges.
Caiden’s voice cracked through the crackle. “Looks fun over there.” His tone was flat, cold.
I snapped the stick down. “Yeah? Maybe you should try enjoying yourself for once.” My words sounded sharper than I meant. Sparks flew up, drifted off into the night.
His gaze snapped to me. Dark, stormy. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I swallowed. “You could at least pretend to have a good time instead of sulking.” My jaw tightened. Heat prickled at my ears.
“Maybe I don’t feel like pretending,” he shot back, standing so fast that sand kicked up around him. The flames leapt higher, shadows dancing across his face.
I rose too, fists clenching. “Then why the hell did you come? You could’ve stayed home and nursed your misery.”
His lip curled. “You think I’m wallowing?”
“Yeah.” I crossed my arms, chest tight. “That’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“At least I’m not being a bitch.”
Everyone went quiet. The only sound was the fire snapping and the ocean breathing against the shore. I could feel their eyes on us. My cheeks burned.
“Why do you always have to be such an asshole, Caiden?” I snapped. My voice shook.
He pressed his hands into his pockets. “Born this way, sweetheart. Get used to it.”
The words stung, but they weren’t just anger; there was hurt there too. My pulse thundered. I remembered the cage, the darkness, the fear we shared. How he’d been the only other soul fighting beside me. Something fragile had bloomed in that chaos.
I exhaled, voice low. “Let’s drop it. We’re supposed to be having fun.”
He spat out a laugh. “Yeah, sure. Queen of fun-killing.”
Shane stepped between us, arms wide. “Hey! Not here, not now. It’s vacation, remember?”
Caiden ran a hand through his hair. “Right. Vacation with my favorite enemy.”
Alex broke the tension with a cheer. “Marshmallows, anyone? I’ve got plenty!” He thrust a bag toward us.
The group shifted, laughter sparking back to life. I took a skewer, slid a marshmallow on, and held it over the blaze again.The heat pricked my face, but I still felt cold inside. Caiden sank back onto the log, arms crossed, watching me.
My heart twisted. I wanted to hate him, to push him away, but every memory—every terrified heartbeat in that cage—pulled me the other way. I blew on the roasting marshmallow, watching it swell and turn golden.
I forced a smile and whispered into the smoke, “Fine. Let’s have fun.” But my voice wavered; the tension still crackled between us like the fire itself.
13
CAIDEN
The monster was takingahold of me as if I were a puppet, stringing me along, while I was dragged into its rage helplessly.
In that fort tunnel with her, the monster was nowhere to be seen. All I wanted to do was soothe her pain and cradle her close to me.
Amelia was walking side by side with Alex, looking so fucking happy. I wanted to skin him alive. I wanted to watch him scream while being tortured. The intrusive thoughts hurled themselves at me, and the self-loathing ran deeper.
The memory of the bonfire last night crept into my mind, and I cringed at the thought of it. It was the one thing I was trying so hard not to do.
Make a fucking scene.
I couldn’t help it. Seeing Alex kiss her caused something inside of me to snap, and I fucking crumbled. He shouldn’t touch her, he shouldn’t be allowed.
