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Logan nodded, and then added, “I had to know if you were right, just as much as you did, Claire.”
“Well, now we all know!” Brent stormed from the room without even a backwards glance. His heavy footsteps rattled my door as he made his way down the stairs. I bolted from the room. I had to tell him the truth, wanting him to know there was nothing between me and Logan. My heart, now and for eternity, belonged to him.
As I swung the door open, I saw the rest of the group in the hall way. They were pretending not to listen. Taking the stairs down two at a time, I wondered how long they had been there but didn’t stop to ask. Needing to talk to Brent was more important.
I ran down the hallway towards the front door, sliding on the hardwood floor as Brent fell to my feet in front of me. He wasn’t moving and I wasn’t entirely sure if he was breathing. Anything that happened prior to this moment was infinitesimal. Here and now would decide our path forever.
Kace stood in the doorway glaring at me, hatred oozing from his heartless stare. He slammed the door and ambled towards me, emitting arrogance. I wanted to call for the others so we could wipe the smug look off his face, but I needed to know if Brent was okay. I fell to my knees, hovering over Brent protectively. He started to stir and I pulled him into my arms, using all of my energy to heal him.
“Thank God,” I sighed. Brent looked up at me, obviously shaken and I kissed his lips gently. “There was never a choice, Brent. It’s always been you,” I cried, feeling his body healing beneath me, his strength growing as I kept whispering how much I loved him.
“I’m sorry, Claire,” he said, squeezing me tightly “I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard. I should have stayed out of your thoughts when you asked me too. I know Logan’s important to you. I should have trusted your love.”
None of it mattered now. I loved Brent, unconditionally.
“No. Please, Brent. I was selfish. I was stubborn, and you were right, I was scared. I’m the one who is sorry,” I whimpered.
“Aww, isn’t that sweet,” Kace teased, standing over us. His voice was condescending – twined with hate – or was it more than that? He was envious. I heard it when he spoke. He had this kind of love once – with Cecilia. Was she his seal’s match?
Brent and I rose from the floor when the others pounded down the stairs. They stood silently behind me and Brent, watching Kace defensively, and prepared to fight.
“The gang’s all here I see, but minus one, aren’t you?” Kace inquired.
“Mandy didn’t make it. You already knew that, Kace,” I answered unemotionally.
“Sad, isn’t it?” Kace taunted in that haunting voice I’ve learned to associate with him when he’s playing on my emotions. I didn’t say anything. I wouldn’t let him use my emotions against me this time. “It was foolish of you to come here, Claire,” he said coldly.
I responded just as coldly. “It saves us the trouble of having to find you.”
“Oh, the little flower is blooming and growing stronger, isn’t she?”
“I have all the strength I need in my friends,” I told him confidently.
Kace narrowed his eyes until the whites disappeared behind his lids.
“That’s sweet Claire, but friends aren’t eternal,” he said, taking a step towards me.
Kace thought he had me. A few days ago he might have. The inability to make friends had always been a weakness for me, but not anymore, now knowing I shared a piece of my seal with the group standing behind me.
“My friends are
eternal, Kace,” I defended, narrowing my eyes back at him.
Kace laughed at my faith. “I thought that once too. It’s amazing how fast your friends drop out of your life when you bed your brother’s wife. One by one they sided with him. Even my closest friend who I entrusted with what my brother did to Cecilia. How my brother beat and abused her, but they judged me for my sin and not his.”
I balled the sleeves of my sweatshirt in my hands, rubbing the fabric tensely between my fist and thumb, calming the anxiety I felt.
“I’m sorry about how your friends treated you. That must have been very hard for you. Perhaps they were never really your friends to begin with. But I have faith in my friends and the strength they provide me,” I argued, taking a brave step forward. Brent stepped with me.
Kace circled Brent and I and we spun with him, keeping our eyes glued to him. He was silent for several turns before he stopped and spoke again.
“Do you really think they would die for you, Claire? Children in your generation are spoiled and selfish. They only care about themselves and what people can do for them. They don’t actually care about you or their silly purpose,” Kace countered, glaring at me questioningly.
I took another half a step forward, dangerously close to him, displaying confidence.
“Perhaps that is where you misjudged them? These are not children, Kace, nor are they perfect. None of us are, but I have no doubts about what they would do for me if I needed them,” I said dauntlessly.
“Hmmm, let’s see about that, shall we?” Kace threatened, lifting his arm and cupping his hand so it formed the letter C. He held it out in front of him, pointing it at me. His grip was strong around my neck while he squeezed the C together, even though he was not actually touching me. He slowly lifted his arm, simultaneously lifting me off the floor. I heard a collective gasp. I struggled to find a breath, feeling the heat beneath the skin of my cheeks as the blood rushed to the surface. I clawed at my neck in a futile attempt to get him to release me. He held firm as his ebony stare threatened to end my life.
