AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you shut too much of yourself away, it can kill you. Did your Nan tell you that?”
My instinct was to defend Nan, but she had never warned me of this. I answered truthfully. “She never knew how much of myself I needed to shut away.”
He released my foot, and his touch traced up my ankle for a split second before he stood. I was breathless when his hand found the back of my neck.
“Whoever taught you that you could be discarded was a fool.” His forehead tipped against mine. “There’s nothing you need to hide. You’re exquisite.”
A small, shocked sound escaped my lips.
“Is this okay, Miss Rivers, or do you want me to let you go?”
My fingers tensed on his arm, holding him in place.
Then his mouth met mine, stealing the breath I was trying to take, kissing me like it was dangerous, like he was teetering on madness. I felt it too. Everything inside me seemed to come undone.
When he pulled away, I stared up at him in wonder, my head shaking in disbelief mingled with crazed joy. I’d never felt more whole or more seen than I did in this moment.
I meant to ask what now, but I knew what I had to do next. I had to get out. To save my brothers. To have a life where this was possible, not in stolen moments between running from monsters. If I was a key, then just maybe there was something I could do to unlock the magic holding us all captive.
“I…should take you back to Edith and Ferrier,” he said, a strange ache pinching the corners of his eyes.
I wasn’t ready for this moment to break. Even the swirling silver mist seemed to dance in joyful whorls. But I needed to see Nan, to make sure she was all right. To see my new friends. When Ash turned to go, blue fingers of mist reached for him.
“Wait,” I breathed.
He turned back toward me, brows lifted.
“Teach me. You said I needed to learn.”
His attention shifted, fixing on a nearby tree instead of my face. “You don’t need my help.”
“I…” want it. But I couldn’t say that aloud. Instead, I said, “I still don’t know what I’m doing.”
“If I help you, the Labyrinth won’t like it. It’s likely already planning to test you again. You’ve learned too much, achieved too much for it to leave you alone now.”
“I just want to survive long enough to get out.”
He turned fully toward me now. “You can’t beat this place. Don’t think you can, just because you discovered your magic. This place wants you… It wants to break you.” He swallowed, fear touching the corners of his eyes.
It struck me as odd to see fear on his face. I’d seen him look carefree in the face of monsters. “I didn’t think you were afraid of this place.”
“I’m not.”
“Then what?”
He was breathing faster now. “I’m afraid for you. Afraid you’ll be torn to pieces, and I won’t be able to stop it. Afraid of what it means that I care for you, and afraid of what will happen when you’re gone.”
His words hit me like a series of unexpected punches. I couldn’t recover fast enough.
“Your magic broke open a part of me I thought was locked forever. And you did it without even trying.”
Barely making a sound, I mumbled, “I’m sorry.”
His eyes closed, and he grimaced. “It’s not your fault. But I see nightmares when I’m around you, Vera. Nightmares I locked away a long time ago.”
I blinked. “Nightmares?”
His eyes were sad when they opened again. “The ones I hid because they’ll drive me to madness faster than any monster.”
