“Seph – “
“If you’re okay, I’m going to go to bed,” she said quietly. “I’m tired.”
She turned toward the door.
I was out of bed in a second.
“Wait. Seph—”
She stopped.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. “How can I fix this between us?”
She paused, then turned back. Her face was still, like she was holding too much inside and couldn’t afford to let any of it spill.
“You can’t fix it, Kieran,” she said softly. “Not now. There’s too much gone wrong.”
She met my eyes.
“There’s been too many lies. Too much pain.”
“I never lied about caring for you,” I said, cutting myself short of saying what I really felt. “I wasalwaysyour friend.”
“Then prove it,” she said softly.
I stared at her, trying to reconcile the girl I knew with this defiant force before me.
“I don’t know how yet,” I said honestly. “But I promise I will.”
She studied me for a long moment, then offered a small smile.
“That’s a dangerous word, Kieran,” she said quietly. “Don’t use it lightly.”
She took a breath, turned, and left the room, leaving me alone.
Chapter 2
Seph
“I want to come with you,” Ash said.
“You can’t. Elliot said there isn’t enough room in the helicopter.” I pulled on my boots, smoothing my jeans.
I’d been at the Equinox Compound for three days now. Elliot had given me space to recover, but my time was up.
I think he hoped to recruit me. And I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
Outside my room, carved deep in the mountain, Sy waited. He was already dressed in his usual motorcycle boots and jeans, staring at the sky like he was tracking something only he could see.
“How come the big guy gets to go?” Ash frowned. He didn’t like me going anywhere without him anymore.
Kieran stepped inside. “Because he doesn’t trust me.”
Sy’s gaze followed him through the window. He didn’t blink. Kieran didn’t either.
“What did you do?” Ash demanded. “Why did you piss off the dragon?”
“I guess it’s just a gift,” Kieran said mildly. “Are we ready to go?”
