Page 96 of Conjure

Camryn leaves the pew, and I storm after her when she makes a beeline for the bathrooms.

The closer I get, the faster she walks until she’s almost running. She darts inside the bathroom and tries to slam the door shut, but I wedge a foot in the gap.

“Get out,” she hisses, ramming her shoulder against the surface.

“I don’t fucking think so.” I shove it open, forcing her back, and then close it behind me. She flinches at the sound of the lock, but I’m done with the avoidance game we’ve been playing.

“What’s up with your arm, Camryn? And don’t fucking lie to me.”

“Nothing is up with my arm.”

I grab her chin with my full palm, making her hiss. “What the fuck is wrong with your arm? Why have you scratched it so badly it bleeds?”

“It itches, okay?”

I don’t care for the defiance in her voice. Not one bit. I snarl, forcing her up against the wall. Her chin might bruise from my death grip, but neither of us cares. She’s too busy burning me to ash with her glare, and I’m too hard to think straight when she’s this feisty. If she’s not careful, I’ll fuck that look out of her eyes.

“Itches, huh?” I push up against her, pressing myself against her stomach. “Has this got something to do with the mysterious insect bite you got a few months back?”

She pales, clamping her lips shut.

“If something is happening to you, I need you to tell me. I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”

“You want to help?” she asks, managing to sound so defiant with her chin engulfed by my big hand, which looks grotesque against her translucent skin. “Stay away from me.”

Her response takes me aback. “What the fuck do you mean?”

She jerks free of my grip, her eyes teary when she looks at me again. “Three people are dead because of me. Three.” She averts her gaze, and my chest squeezes. I try to catch her eyes again, coaxing her to look at me with a gentler touch as I trace her jawline.

“It’s not your fault they’re dead.”

She says nothing, flicking her sorrow-filled eyes between mine.

“Dammit, Camryn.” I cup her cheek. “None of this is your fault.”

“Yes, it is.”

I don’t like how her voice trembles or how the tears in her eyes threaten to fall.

“I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to you. I shouldn’t even be here today. I’m putting everyone at risk.”

I open my mouth to speak, but slam it shut again, blowing out a frustrated sigh. Her tears finally fall, and I swipe them away with my thumbs, then trace her quivering bottom lip. “Don’t shut me out again.”

“I’m doing it to keep you safe,” she says, escaping past me.

I hang my head as she leaves the bathroom. What will it take to get her to stop being so stubborn?

Chasing after her, I catch up just as she enters the main hall. I grab her arm, shove her up against the back of a large pillar, and place my hand over her mouth to keep her fucking quiet. I doubt she’d scream in front of the congregation and cause a scene at her friend’s funeral, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“I’m not a patient man. If you push me away again, I don’t know what the hell I’ll do, but I know one thing. Care to hazard a guess?”

Her wide, glassy eyes watch me as I grab her throat with my free hand.

“I know I’ll never let you go, so do us both a favor and get that fucking idea out of your head.”

Her pulse thunders beneath my fingers, the tears finally spilling over.

I lean in close to her ear. “Have I ever told you how pretty you are when you cry? How it makes me want to devour you? To hurt you more.” With one final look behind the pillar to ensure no one is watching, I release her throat and snake my hand beneath her skirt.