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Chapter 16

Pulling Away

AUGUSTUS

Something is wrong. Aside from the fact that we are currently driving to my house that has apparently been broken into and damaged, Cordelya hasn’t said a word since I called Officer Burrows. When we left her apartment, she checked every door and window at least twice, if not three times. The moment we stepped outside, she began scanning the street, looking in shadows for some unknown threat.

Even now, with her hand in mine, I can feel her pulling away. She’s rebuilding the walls that guarded her when we first met.

It feels like I’m losing her.

There’s a painful twist in my chest when I imagine life without her.

I give her hand a gentle squeeze as we pull up to my house, where two squad cars are parked.

She doesn’t respond, just continues to search the early morning light. I just wish I knew for what.

I exit the car and help Cordelya out, retaking her hand in mine, willing her not to give in to the shadows she’s so afraid of. For just a moment I catch her looking, not for something about to jump out and get her, but at my house. There’s a soft smile as she studies the porch with the swing just outside the door. A place I’ve described a few times when I’ve sat there texting her.

Then Office Burrows opens the door, and her smile vanishes.

“Augustus. Ms. Holland,” he greets, reaching out to shake my hand. “Sorry for the interruption to your morning.”

I catch the lovely flush on Cordelya’s face out of the corner of my eye.

Officer Burrows pulls out his notepad, reviewing his notes before speaking. “ So your neighbors heard what they described as a rage room gone wild. By the time I arrived on scene, the responsible party had left. If you’ll follow me, we can do a walkthrough.”

I turn to Cordelya, cupping her face, hating the fear I see in the depths of her silvery eyes.

“Do you want to wait in the car?”

Her eyes widen, and her heart starts to race, taking mine with it.

I press a kiss to her forehead. “It’s okay, Moonlight. You can come with me. I’ve got you.”

She doesn’t say anything, just nods as her eyes brim with unshed tears.

With her hand firmly in mine, we walk up the porch steps and into the house.

Holy fuck.

The living room looks like a tornado swept through, followed by a wrecking ball.

Pictures are hanging at odd angles, some halfway off their hangers. Glass crunches under our feet, scattered across the floor like a glitter bomb explosion. The flat-screen TV has been smashed in and the couches overturned.

Beside me, Cordelya lets out a soul-crushing sob, “Oh, Auggie.” I pull her to me as her tears flow freely, wrap her in my arms, and hold her as she falls apart. I can feel the torrent of her emotions pulsing through me.

Shame. Guilt. Regret. Loss. And sorrow. Such sorrow, I gasp for breath.

I can tell that her tears are as much for me as they are for herself.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur into her hair over and over as I hold her tight. She wraps herself around me like I’m the only thing tethering her to the world. The need to fix this, to make sure that she never feels these overwhelming feelings again, is so strong I have to choke back a growl.

When her cries stop, she pulls back, looking small and frightened.

“S-sorry,”

I wipe the tears from her eyes and press a soft kiss to her lips.