Page 43 of Darkness of Mine

“Oh yeah?”

“Did they say I’m right and that really I’m the genius not Jude?”

Her lip twitches. “He said he thinks I run away from the things that scare me. Even the good things.”

Smart man.

Freya sighs. “I thought I was protecting you by leaving but maybe he’s right. Maybe it was easier to leave before I lost you. But I guess I ended up losing you anyway.”

I brush my thumb over her cheek. “You haven’t lost us. I’m right here.”

She hums a sound of disbelief. “What about the others?”

My lips curl up at the edges in a sad smile because it’s hard to believe Freya still doesn’t understand how much we’re all fucking obsessed with her. “You’ve got Oz wrapped around your little finger. River will calm down in time and Jude, Jude spent his whole life being left behind and undervalued. He just needs to know you want him as much as he wants you.”

“I do,” she insists.

“I know.” I trace my finger behind her ear over the dagger inked into her skin. “I saw the tattoo.”

“AJ did it for me,” she says. “They traced what was left of Jude’s design and I remembered the rest.”

“He’ll love it.”

Freya nods, some of her confidence returning.

I drop my hand to her shoulder, gently stroking the thin ridges of my initials.

She sucks in a breath, her eyes widening as her thighs squeeze together. “Will River be mad you cut me?”

“If Jude gets to have his drawing tattooed on you and River gets to lock a tracking bracelet around your wrist, then I sure as fuck get to leave my mark too.”

“Aww, you’re all so romantic,” she teases. “Maybe Oz will be normal and get me jewelry. You know, the sans tracker type.”

I slip my hand under the covers and squeeze her ass. “Go to sleep, Freya or I’ll tell River you were being a brat.”

Her mouth opens on a yawn and her eyes flutter closed. “He won’t believe you. I never misbehave.”

I snort. “Sure, kitten. Sure.” I roll onto my back, bringing Freya with me so her head rests on my chest, right over where she cut me. It hurts a little, but I like the reminder that she’s here, in my arms. That this time, we’re not letting her go.

20

FREYA

Eli’s gone when I wake up and I try not to freak out over being left alone in a locked room. The daylight streaming in from the window helps and my heart softens as I realize Eli must have opened the drapes before he left.

We’re in December and it’s freaking cold out but today, even through the glass, the sun shines strong and warm on my face. I soak the feeling in and remind myself I am so far away from the basement my father used to lock me in.

When I push myself up to sitting, paper crinkles under my hand. I pick it up and read the note Eli’s left me.

Had to go to The Lair to chase down a lead with River and Oz. Didn’t want to wake you. Jude’s downstairs. Message him if you need anything.

Love you, Eli x

I don’t know how his ‘love you’ can make my heart flutter when the rest of the note just pisses me off. I’ve been left behindagain and I can’t even leave this fucking room without Jude’s permission.

My backwards form of protesting the whole thing is to refuse to message Jude. Instead, I get out of bed and drown my moodiness in the shower. I hiss when the shampoo hits the cuts Eli left on my shoulder. The sharp sting has memories of last night slamming into me like a tidal wave.

I press my palms against the tiles as the water runs down my back. I broke Eli’s skin. He should hate me.