Page 68 of Briar

And then they’re gone. The silence bursts into a kaleidoscope of noise that returns in a rush as I stagger back, frantically wiping at my face. My neck. My mouth.

But it doesn’t stop the memories. The voice.

Look at you. Your body doesn’t lie, Jenson.

A horrific, high-pitched sound comes from my throat as I shake my head in desperation.

She’s dead. Gone. Under the fucking ground. In hell, where she belongs.

My breathing locks up inside my chest as I focus. Mallory is screaming, her face contorted as Briar pulls her away from me. By herhair.Briar has hersmall hands wrapped around Mal’s blond hair with surprising strength as she rips her away before she pushes her back and gets in between us, her back to me.

Protectingme.

And Mallory is screaming, clutching her scalp. “Who the fuck are you? Fucking psychopath – you ripped out my hair!”

Breathe. Fucking breathe.

It feels like I’m underwater. Everything has slowed down.

Briar shakes off her hand, pale strands falling to the floor. It’s not a small amount. “You assaulted him—,”

“Ikissedhim!” Mal cranes her neck, staring at me. “Tell this bitch, Jenson. We have a relationship!”

Briar stiffens. “He didn’t ask for it. Didn’t want it. That’s assault.”

Mal scrambles to her feet, raising her hand. It jerks me out of my panic, my head clearing as she pulls it back to deliver a slap. “Don’t think you’re any better than I am. You fucking sl—,”

The hand that wraps around her wrist isn’t gentle, and she cries out. “I strongly suggest you don’t finish that sentence, Mallory. We just seem to keep having the same conversation, don’t we?”

River’s eyes are nearly black as he looks down at her, and then to Briar. His face gentles. “You okay, warrior? Heard you’re fighting all the battles tonight.”

“She—,”

“I know.” His eyes glance to me, assessing before he turns back. “Mallory was warned before about what would happen if she tried this again. Weren’t you, Mal?”

Mal stares at me with disbelief. “I thought if – if I just did it, if you at leasttried—,”

If she just dragged up the worst memories of my life and forced herself on me, that I would want her. That it would be fine. That I’d justget over it.

My voice sounds raw, almost ragged. “No.”

I don’t have the capacity for anything else. Briar takes a step back, until she’s almost against my chest, the way she was at Ravenhall. She’s careful to keep her hands out in front of her. And she turns her head, her voice quiet enough that only I can hear it. “She’s not going to touch you again.”

Her words ease the tightness behind my ribs, and I shift forward. She leans back against me as if she’s fitted there all our lives, a perfectly matching puzzle piece.

Mal’s eyes widen. “So youcantouch. You lied to me.”

“I don’t owe you anything.” The words feel like razor blades. “I gave you an honest explanation years ago, and I am tired of telling you no, Mal. It ends now.”

River’s mouth tightens. “You’re finished here. Out. Now. You won’t be coming back.”

A permanent ban. She spends every night here, looking for something she never seems to find. Pity tightens my chest at the panic that crosses her face. “Wait. You can’t ban me.”

But I’m done. River keeps hold of her wrist as he pulls her away. “You good? Both of you?”

I nod. Briar does the same. “We’ll be upstairs.”

Understanding dawns on his face. “I’ll handle things here.”