Page 18

Her mind replayed everything Zero taught her about pain and what it meant for Ethan. Dammit, that slayed her. She closed her eyes, knowing deep down, she couldn’t stop. She had to learn, no matter how hard it was. So she could help him, that was the point of all of it.

The idea of checking her phone and seeing if Ethan called, set butterflies free in her stomach. But what if he somehow found out she was doing this?

She pushed the blanket off, moving instead toward the bathroom.

Ethan needed pain to ground him.

She needed the sharp slap of cold water on her burning face.

Padding barefoot through the quiet house, she caught the faint vibration of her phone on the nightstand. Great.

She turned on the tap and filled her palms up and splashed her face several times. She straightened and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked the same. She didn’t feel the same.

She heard the phone buzzing again and hurried back into the room, turning over the phone.

Her stomach dropped.

Omnis:

You took your first step toward understanding. Well done, Kitten.

ZeroSum:

Angels don’t hesitate. They don’t flinch. If you do, you’re just a girl playing dress-up.

Her smile evaporated at Zero’s message. She set the phone down and sat heavily on the bed with a sigh. She didn’t consider herself an angel by any means, but she was damn sure not a girl playing dress-up.

She slammed herself onto the mattress then pounded a spot in the pillow for her head. She wasn’t sure what all she’d learn with their lessons, but hell or high water, she’d try her very best to learn all she could.

Now, the hesitation part… she definitely needed help with that one. Her mind rolled one way in regard to all of this and theirs rolled the opposite. Surely with enough practice, she’d overcome that.

Surely.

****

“Hit me,” he commanded clearly. “Open palm. On the face.”

Cat’s stomach flipped at the sudden order. So soon. She’d just sat in the same spot on the same dungeon chair with Omnis standing somewhere behind her, silently observing again.

She wet her lips, forcing her brain to engage.Angels don’t hesitate. Her breathing shallowed as she stood and focused then raised her hand, delivering a sharp strike across his masked cheek.

The sound landed dull and pathetic, his head barely moving. But if you asked her ears, it ricocheted through the silence and caused an electric storm to rock her core.

Zero’s eyes flared while her heartbeat raced wildly against her ribs with fear. Then his deep, rich chuckle came, curling around her, mocking her fear. He traced the edge of his mask where she’d struck him, his gaze glinting sharply. “Kitten,” he purred sinfully, leaning close enough for his warmth to radiate through his mask. “Now we’re having fun.”

And there it was, their opposing pain philosophies. It was bound to meet. A battlefield for her, a dance stage for him. But beneath her set-in-stone beliefs about pain, she couldn’t deny there was something new she’d never experienced. A rush of some kind. Maybe the type related to being very close to something huge. Hopefully a revelation that would make all of this a hell of a lot easier.

His eyes flashed hungrily on her as he took a step closer. “Do it again.”

Cat steadied her breath, determined, as she inhaled deeply. Deliberately. This time the strike snapped sharply, bringing a flash in his green eyes above his mask while her chest heaved, and her whole hand grew a heartbeat.

He slowly slid his fingertips along his masked cheek, eyes sparkling. “That one had heart.”

Cat’s breath trembled from her as Zero leaned closer, his voice dropping low, gently guiding her deeper.

“That’sthe kind of pain Ethan needs from you, Kitten.”

Her stomach flipped sharply.