Page 41 of A Soul’s Curse (Fallen Souls #1)

I was brooding, wrapped in a fuzzy fleece blanket like a grumpy burrito, silently judging the world while contemplating how much of my life could be solved by more snacks and less thinking.

Ellie was safe … for now. I didn’t know what would happen to Markus, but I had hoped he’d ensure her continued safety if he wanted to find out what happened to his cousin.

But that didn’t solve my problem with another certain demon.

“ You ready to talk? ” There was no judgment in my sister’s expression, just a pained worry touched with a hint of eager curiosity.

When I came home to find my sister sulking at me, I knew it was time to let it out.

I didn’t know why I thought Ren would suddenly come crashing through that door, sweeping me up in his strong arms and apologizing for every wrong he’d ever done.

Even if he did, would it have made a difference?

Could I bring myself to forgive him for what he’d done? Did I even want to?

I explained everything to my sister, how Ren lied to me and used me, and how he was the one responsible for taking her hearing and what happened to our mom.

By the end of my story, my own hands were shaking too much to continue, and Paige could barely contain her rage, her nostrils flaring and fingers clenched tight into fists, unable to sign her response.

She stayed like that for a few minutes until she was calm enough to say something. “ And you believe Caspian? ” she asked, like she was experiencing the same disbelief I was when I first found out.

“Ren didn’t deny it, and he pretty much confirmed it when he begged me to listen so he could explain.”

“And did you let him explain?”

My mouth gaped open, my hands searching for the words to sign. “ No. Did you not register anything I just told you? He tried to murder us! ” I looked away from my sister, frustration heating my skin.

She tapped me on the knee to bring my attention back to her. “You know that my magic can help me understand what people are feeling right? That I know exactly what people seem to need, even if they don’t believe it, or won’t outright admit it?”

I nodded.

“I’m not saying what Ren did was justified, or that you should even forgive him.

But …” She bit her lip as if contemplating how to word the rest of that statement.

“As much as I hate to admit it, my gut tells me that I think he needs you, and because you’re sitting here sulking over him, you don’t want to let him go either.

At least give him a chance to explain his side of the story. ”

“Why?” I challenged. “How can I even trust what he has to say? Am I just supposed to move on and pretend like none of this ever happened?”

“Of course not.” Paige sighed, holding my cold hands in her warm ones before letting go to complete her thought.

“At Emberheart Place, when he was helping me translate, you remember that we shared a connection right? He was in my mind, but I was also in his. I don’t know if he realized it, but his thoughts and feelings flooded into me, and the entire time all he was thinking about was you.

He was worried you’d never forgive him for what happened to Mr. Carson, wondering what he would do if you refused his help and you were harmed because he wasn’t there to protect you.

Someone who doesn’t care about you doesn’t think like that. ”

Realization dawned on me with my sister’s words. “Oh. Oh, shit,” I said out loud, although the shocked expression on my face would have been obvious. Guilt twisted my gut, the pain sharp and persistent in my chest. “What have I done?”

My sister tilted her head, furrowing her brows and narrowing her eyes as she gave me a puzzled look. I pulled her in for a hug.

“Your ex-roommate, Taylor, didn’t happen to leave behind any clothes did she?” I remembered Paige mentioning she was a hockey player, and she often wore men’s clothes to fit her athletic frame. “I need to go for a run to let off some steam, but I don’t have a change of clothes with me.”

Paige got up and sifted through her old roommate's bedroom, returning with a pair of joggers and a t-shirt. The pants were a dark purple, the t-shirt definitely on the more form-fitting side. I would’ve preferred something a bit heavier, especially with the fading afternoon sun and the dark storm clouds rolling in, but I wasn’t about to complain.

I’d take what I could get. There was something I needed to do and it couldn’t wait.