Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“And yet, he shot Tanner… and he shot to kill. Or did you forget that?”
“Tell me, if I’d done as he asked, what do you think would have happened? Huh? Do you think you would have just destroyed him on the spot and we’d have walked away with a carefree whistle? He had hold of me. That alone would have made you hesitate to act – something he was counting on and had planned for. That hesitation would have gotten you killed.”
“It might not have happened that way.”
“I wasn’t going to risk it.”
“Which almost got you killed.”
She shoved a hand through her hair. He just wasn’t hearing her at all. “What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry? That I’ll never do it again?”
He scoffed. “Why would I ask you to promise me you’ll never do it again? Apparently you don’t keep your word.”
She shot to her feet so fast she swayed. “You motherfucking son of a bitch.”
“Sit down before you fall down.”
Ignoring that, she scowled. “You’re honestly saying that bullshit to me?” He would actually question her sense of integrity?
“You made me a promise. You didn’t keep it.”
“Oh yes, I’m just the worst mate ever for wanting to protect you. How dare I,” she mocked.
He took an aggressive step toward her. “I don’t need you to protect me. I don’t want you to protect me. I want you to live.”
“Do I look like a fucking apparition to you? I am alive, asshole! And if you don’t want me to protect you, ask me if I give a shit! I’m your mate! That’s what mates do! And protecting the people I care about is who I am!”
“And that protective streak makes you reckless,” he snapped.
“Says the person who called on the flames of fucking hell and destroyed a house of dark practitioners to protect their mate! Yeah, you don’t get to judge me on this one, Thorne.”
“I do get to be pissed that you made me a promise but didn’t keep it.”
“You’re pissed because I won’t fall in line with what you want. I’m my own person and I’ve never pretended to be anything else. People like Belinda would change to suit someone, but that’s not me. It will never be me. I protected you tonight and, if necessary, I’ll do it again. If you can’t accept that, then you’re not accepting me. And if that’s how it is, say so now and end what we have before we drive each other completely insane.”
He closed his eyes and released a frustrated breath.
“Well? Can you accept it or not?” Because she wasn’t going to have this argument every time she did what she had to do to protect him. He had to understand that she wouldn’t change, and he had to make peace with it.
A few moments later, he opened his eyes. “I have to speak to the sentinels.”
Her stomach rolled. His failure to answer her question told her all she needed to know.
“You should rest and —”
“Get out,” she snarled.
His brows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“Get the fuck out.” Instead, the cheeky fucker moved toward her. Her demon leapt to the surface and hissed, “Don’t.” He wisely halted. “You won’t get an apology,” it told him. “Neither she nor I are sorry for what we did or who we are.” Harper took back the reins and scowled at him. “And if you don’t like it, fuck you!”
With that, she stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Breathing hard, she leaned back against it. Footsteps headed her way… but then the sound of them faded as he left the bedroom.
Grams, I need to get out of here.
Knox prowled out of the bedroom, more enraged than he’d been in a long while. He’d been in a meeting with Levi, Keenan, and Larkin when he’d received Tanner’s frantic call. Fear clogging his throat, he’d pyroported himself and his sentinels to the reception area of the studio. He hadn’t needed to hear Harper call out to him; he’d been able to hear the struggle coming from the office. Barging inside to find her on the floor; eyes closed, not moving…
Dead.
The word had bounced around his skull until he felt her pulse with his fingers. Relief had rushed through his veins, but it hadn’t eased the fear and rage heating his blood and sending his demon into a frenzy. The insidious emotions lingered even now. It all curdled in his stomach, twisting and tugging at his gut, and tormenting his demon.
All Knox wanted was for her to be safe. He needed her to be safe. He’d trusted that she’d keep her promise and call him if necessary. Trusted that her need to take care of herself wouldn’t drive her to put herself in too much danger.
He’d been wrong to do so, apparently. And, yes, it hurt that she’d broken her promise. That pain was keeping the bubbling rage alive.