Page 33 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

TRACE

I’d watched Ellie in the ring for longer than I wanted to admit. I came to Haven to burn through some of the need that had been coursing through me since our almost-moment in my entryway last night. Instead, I’d been met with her explosion of magic yet again.

The way she laughed when she bungled a new move, how determined she was to get it right… I saw her muscles trembling beneath that damn workout outfit, the spandex revealing every dip and curve. My fingers ached to memorize them all.

I couldn’t stop my back teeth from grinding as Kye moved her arms into position. I was so goddamned jealous of my brother because he was the one touching her. But then the moves had gotten rougher. As Kye jerked Ellie toward him, something in me snapped.

And when she hit the ring’s mats with brutal force, anger like I’d never known blazed through me. The fiery beast I always kept firmly in check was thrashing at the walls of its prison.

I was through the ropes in a flash, shoving Kye as I snarled at him. But I could only think about getting him away from Ellie. Keeping her from experiencing any more pain.

She’d been through too much already. Losing her mom. Her dad’s cruelty. Her ex laying hands on her.

Surprise and a flicker of unease filled Kye’s eyes as he lifted both hands, palms toward me, keeping them where I could see them and showing me he had no intention of fighting me. “Breathe. We’re just sparring.”

“Are you?” I growled.

Ellie struggled to her feet, coughing a little at the loss of air. “Trace, I’m fine.”

I turned so I could see them both, suddenly feeling like a cornered wild animal. “He hurt you.”

Pink blossomed on Ellie’s cheeks. “He was teaching me.”

I glared in Kye’s direction. “She could’ve been seriously hurt.”

Kye’s head tipped to one side as if trying to read what was going on with me. “We may have pushed a little hard for day one, but Ellie’s just fine. See?”

My gaze skimmed over her again, looking for any signs of injury. But all I could see was her heavy breathing and angry expression. It was then that I realized the entire gym had stopped to watch the show.

“I know what I can handle,” she gritted out. “And I don’t need you or anyone else telling me what I can or cannot do.” With that, she stalked across the ring, ducked under the ropes, and took off toward the locker rooms.

I watched her go, every angry step making me realize just how badly I’d fucked up. A hollow feeling took root inside me, the worst kind of empty pain, at the thought that I’d added to Ellie’s feelings of being controlled.

“Dude,” Arden said, cutting into my misery spiral. “What is wrong with you?”

When I turned to my sister, I saw her own brand of rage directed at me. But I deserved it. “I freaked,” I finally admitted.

Kye moved to my side. “Thought you were gonna deck me for a second. ”

I sent another glare his way, still not altogether happy with him. “You were pushing too hard.”

“I wasn’t,” he said, straightening his shoulders. “Said that to get whatever demon had a hold of you in check. We were fine until you blew through. You know sparring ends in bumps and bruises sometimes.”

“He’s right. Think about the black eye Shep was rocking a couple of months ago,” Arden cut in, Brutus leaning into her side, not liking the tension in the air.

Kye shook his head. “Not gonna make that mistake again. Thea scares me.”

Usually, I would’ve laughed at the reminder of Thea threatening Kye with garden shears when he gave Shep a black eye while sparring. But I couldn’t get my voice to make the sound or my lips to curve into a grin.

Kye didn’t miss it. He gripped my shoulder, his hand squeezing hard, bringing me back to the present. His voice dipped low. “I know she’s been hurt.”

My gaze flicked to him as my face hardened. “She say something to you?”

“Not a word. But you start to get radar for that sort of thing when enough people come through your classes who have been victimized in one way or another. I know how to watch for someone’s triggers, and I’m not going to take for granted that someone has given me their trust.”

My throat constricted as I struggled to swallow. “I’m sorry. I know you’re careful. I just?—”

“She means something to you,” Kye said.

It wasn’t a question, but I found myself answering it anyway. “Yeah. She means something.” I dragged a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put hands on you.” I shouldn’t put hands on anyone in anger, but especially not Kye.

“You’re fine. Just breathe.” A grin spread across my brother’s face. “You were jealous, weren’t you?”

“Shut up. ”

Kye cackle-laughed. “You really like her.”

“Oh, fuck off,” I clipped.

Arden gaped at me. “You cursed .”

Hell. I would never hear the end of it now.

Kye’s grin only grew wider until he looked like a maniacal evil genius. “You way more than like her, and you are so totally screwed.”

Arden winced. “I’m not sure how Linc’s gonna feel about that.”

I pinned her with my worst big-brother stare. “Do not say a word to him.”

Arden worried her bottom lip. “Trace. I don’t know exactly what happened, but she’s been through it.”

“I know,” I said, that hollow pain flaring to life again.

“She’s been doubting everything about herself. Trying to find her footing again.”

“I know .” I stressed the second word as I met Arden’s gaze.

Something shifted in my sister’s expression. “She talked to you.”

“We both talked,” I admitted.

Arden’s eyes misted over. “You talked.”

“We did.”

Her eyes filled then. “Oh, Jesus, these hormones are killing me. I am not crying,” she barked at me and Kye.

Kye held up his hands in surrender. “Of course, you aren’t.”

“Shut up,” she shot back. “I need to go.” Arden took off for the front door as Kye and I looked at each other.

“It’s gonna be a long nine months,” Kye muttered.

He wasn’t wrong. But I couldn’t worry about that right now. I had to find Ellie and make things right.