Page 188 of Bend

He taps his own chest. “Go on. If that’s what you need, fucking hit me. Better me than putting your hand through metal.”

“Don’t fucking tell me what I need.”

“Then tell me.”

“I need him!”

My voice tears apart on the words.

Draygon’s face twists, but I’m too far gone to stop now.

“I need Wolfe back, mate. Can you fucking do that?”

“No.”

“Then you’re no use to me either.”

The second it leaves my mouth I know it’s cruel.

I don’t care.

Or maybe I do, and that only pisses me off more.

Draygon steps into me when I try to move past him, and I shove him again. This time he catches my arms.

“Get off me!”

“Not while you’re like this.”

“Like what?” I wrench against his grip. “Fucking grieving?”

“Like you’re about to tear yourself apart because you can’t tear the rest of the world apart instead.”

“Fuck you.”

“Yeah.” His voice cracks. “Fuck me. Hit me if you need to, Thorne, but stop acting like you’re the only one who fucking lost him.”

That does it.

I rip one arm free and swing.

My fist catches him across the jaw.

Draygon’s head snaps sideways.

For one second, everything goes dead still.

Then he turns back toward me slowly, thumb dragging across the corner of his mouth, but he doesn’t hit me back.

Somehow that makes me even angrier.

“Come on then, mate!” I shove his chest. “You fucking offered.”

“I offered to be your outlet, but I’m not fucking fighting you.”

“Then stop following me!”

“No.”