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“Fucking damn. Stop!”
A rough, calloused hand grabbed my own, wrenching my offending nails away from my skin. I glanced up in shock, surprised to see Aiden inches from my face. Rain matted his dark black hair to his scalp, and his lip and eyebrow piercing glimmered each time a new strike of lightning erupted overhead.
He was breathing heavily, chest heaving, but his eyes were focused as they rested on mine.
“What are you doing?” he hissed.
Tears, once more, spurted in my eyes, but I angrily brushed them away.
“Why do you care?” I asked just as bitterly. Each word was a slash of a whip, succinct and penetrating. His eyes narrowed on me, but his hand was surprisingly gentle as it held my own.
“I don’t. But for some reason, I don’t like seeing a female sitting in the rain, hurting herself. Excuse me if I’m a bleeding heart.”
I snorted, wrenching my hand away from his. Or, at least, attempted to. Instead of breaking free, he held me tighter. His long fingers clasped my wrist with a familiarity and tenderness that took me off guard. All I could do was stare at where we touched, the sky continuing to fall apart around us.
“Fuck off, Aiden,” I whispered. I wondered if he could hear my words over the rumble of thunder and cacophony of rain.
“Why are you doing this?” he continued, ignoring me. His gaze was fixated on the stream of pink cascading down my hand. His thumb traced each jagged mark on my skin before pushing my sleeve up higher. His eyes flashed dangerously when he took in the now healed, self-inflicted scars taking up residence on my upper arm.
With bated breath, I watched him. Watched his tantalizingly light finger trace the area above each scar, never touching. Watched his lips part, a puff of air escaping. Watched the banked fire in his eyes grow to an inferno. He looked as if he was seconds away from either screaming at me, crying with me, or throwing me over his shoulder and locking me in his room.
I couldn’t understand why, though. Aiden hated me. Not only that, but he blamed me for the disappearance of his sister. There was no reasonable explanation for the protectiveness tightening his features. The compassion in his dark eyes.
“Because I’m going insane,” I breathily replied, glancing up at him through my fringe of lashes. He didn’t pull his attention away from my arm.
“You’re not going insane.” His tone was just as soft as mine, just as husky, and I wondered if my presence was affecting him as his affected me. The thought made me feel empowered, tiny licks of fire dancing through my veins.
“I’m seeing things, believing things, that can’t be real.” My broken confession finally had his eyes flickering upward. For a long moment, I could see nothing but indecision in his gaze. He chewed on his lower lip, tongue swirling around that enticing lip ring. I couldn’t look away, utterly enthralled.
“Come with me,” he said after a long moment of silence. Without waiting for me to respond, he jumped to his feet and extended a hand. I eyed the proffered hand warily. This was the moment, I realized, when I had to decide whether or not I would trust him. Whether or not I would let him past my carefully constructed walls.
They were made of iron and stone, sure, but Aiden was a cannon. He came charging through my defenses, blow after blow. Surprisingly, I allowed him to.
With a stiff nod, I captured his hand with my own, and he pulled me to my feet. His eyes flashed with something I couldn’t quite comprehend before that was replaced by calm indifference.
“Come.” He squeezed my hand and pulled me to a familiar building.
The hut I had found Kace in only an hour before.
This time, however, when he opened the creaking door, there was no sign of the eccentric man. I couldn’t understand why I felt disappointed.
Aiden ducked beneath a loose ceiling board before stopping in front of the yellow tape indicating that particular part of the building was under construction.
He took a deep breath, shoulders stiffening, before glancing back at me. Coldness once more iced over his eyes, and I staggered back a step. Had I gotten this all wrong? Had I been stupid trusting Aiden?
“What I tell you cannot be heard by another soul,” he said curtly. His grip on my hand now felt almost punishing. “I don’t even know why I’m fucking telling you this, but if you tell anyone else, even that mute boyfriend of yours, I will kill you. Do you got that?”
All I could do was nod mutely. Whatever warmth had once emanated from Aiden’s eyes was gone now. In the brooding man’s face was a prowling tiger out for the kill. With a stiff bob of his head that indicated he heard me, Aiden ducked beneath the yellow tape, pulling me after him. I moved slowly, warily, my legs feeling like jelly.
“Are we supposed to be in here?” I whispered. Despite everything, I found myself clinging to Aiden like a damn monkey. My body was practically molded against his back, our fingers interlocked to the point of bruising. If it bothered him, he didn’t complain.
Ignoring my question, he stepped in front of an unmarked, opened doorway.
Mouth agape, all I could do was trail after him helplessly as he pushed the door farther open and stepped down a steep staircase.
Steep didn’t even begin to describe it. The staircase seemed to go on for miles, nothing but inky darkness as its destination.
Fear gripped my heart and refused to let go. I could feel my whole body shaking, a feat that became more obvious when pressed against Aiden’s sturdy, calm one.
