Page 124 of The Diamond in the Rough

He huffed a little. “It was a big tweak.”

Even I could tell he wasn’t telling the truth. “You injured yourself helping me.”

Raj set down his sandwich and leaned forward, his golden-brown eyes focused on my face. “Rayn,youweren’t responsible for anything that happened. You didn’t choose to be kidnapped. You didn’t choose to be thrown down that well. And you sure as shit didn’t choose for me to jump in after you. I did that all by my stupid self.”

“Because of me,” I half-whispered, looking away from the intensity of his gaze.

“No, because of what happenedtoyou.” A warm hand settled over mine where it rested on the little table. “Rayn…” But he didn’t say anything else, trailing off into silence.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“You are not to blame for this.”

“I—I went into your dreams again,” I choked out.

“And it’s a damn good thing you did!” he replied, the volume of his voice increasing. “Because if you hadn’t?—”

I’d be dead.

Neither one of us said it.

Raj squeezed my hand gently. “Point is,” he said, his voice back to its normal pitch. “You didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do. It’s myjobto take risks that might get me injured.”

I frowned. I didn’t like that way of characterizing what he did—mostly because I didn’t like the idea that Raj might be constantly putting himself at risk. Not that I got any say about what he did with his life.

“Rayn,” he said again, softly. “I would do it again.”

I looked up at him. “Why?”

“To save you.”

“Why?”

He let out another huffed sigh. “Two reasons. One, my job is to save people. Two—” He sighed, then leaned back, leaving my hand cold where his had been. “Two, it’s my fault you were roped into this to begin with.”

I blinked. “No, it’s not.”

“If we hadn’t asked you to work this case?—”

“That’s not why Garraway took me,” I whispered.

“What do you mean?”

“They followed Violette to Beyond the Veil because theywanted to findme. Garraway knew my parents. That’s why he came after me.”

“Fuck,” Raj breathed.

“No matter what I do, I can’t ever leave Tranquil Brook behind.” My voice cracked as I spoke its name.

“Rayn—”

I shook my head sharply, winced, then grabbed a chip and stuck it in my mouth. “Don’t say you’re sorry for me. Don’t say you understand. Don’t pity me. I don’t want any of that.”

He was quiet for a while, and the chip stuck in my throat.

“I don’t,” he said softly. “I—I think you’re incredibly strong. Resilient. Brave. And I have no idea what it must have taken to do what you did. To go back to Tranquil Brook with us. To keep working this case, in spite of everything.”

I stared at him, no idea what to say.