Page 129 of Fractured Future

Sucked into the magnificence of his olive-toned orbs, I find myself wondering when I last pleaded with someone. It’s not something that comes naturally to me. Pleading equals vulnerability in my books.

But I feel safe enough to occupy that fragile space with him. I’ve let Hyland see glimpses of the real Ember, beyond the caricature I play so well. And he hasn’t hurt that broken woman. Not yet.

“I do.” His reply offers some assurance. “We wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t trust you.”

“Then let’s get to work. I need to be ready for the raid.”

Gaze softening, his reluctance drains away to leave a familiar look of concern. “Why put yourself through it? There will be other chances.”

The scent of a fresh, salt-laced breeze pours from him, a perfect match to the raw strength of his voice. He talks like the ocean is spilling from his lips, full of deafening waves and almighty force.

In another life, Hyland could’ve passed for a surfer. Perhaps even a modern-day Viking. He certainly has the cut muscles and unruly hair to fit the stereotype.

Most would find his intimidating stature exactly that: downright terrifying. Yet he selflessly wields his extreme strength by helping those who wash up on Sabre’s doorstep.

“I need to prove to myself that I can do it,” I whisper back. “That I can take all the evil they poured inside me and use it for good. I won’t know until I try.”

“You aren’t evil.” His gentle smile causes warmth to seep through my veins. “What they made you do was evil, but you… are not.”

“Tell that to the trail of people left behind me. Shit, I did far worse than leaving them unconscious after a fight. I don’t know if they all survived.”

“That’s irrelevant.” Hyland flicks his wrist dismissively. “What you did was under threat of death or worse. You had no choice.”

“But I chose to enjoy it.”

“Ember…”

“It’s true. I chose to become the violence I was forced to inflict. I chose to let it make its home inside me.”

The stubbled lines around his mouth tensing, Hyland lifts a big paw to smooth hair from my face. Several chunks have fallen out of the braid after sparring all morning.

“Fine… You’re evil. You win.”

“That’s not funny.” I glare at him.

“My point is that what you do now is your choice. For the record, I think choosing to work for Sabre is brave. Regardless of the shit I give you for it.”

“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve said for a while.” I laugh under my breath.

“I give everyone a hard time, Em. It’s only the people I care about who get to see why I’m like this. And why I care so bloody much.”

“The more you care, the more of an ass you become?”

A smile unfurls on his mouth. “Something like that.”

“Then you must really care about me.”

“Perhaps I do.”

The sound of the air-conditioning system whirring is the only distraction to our moment. Crouched in the ring, the limited air between us feels charged, laden with the possibility of something unknown.

It’s the same feeling that crawls under my skin when Axel cracks a joke that makes me laugh so hard, I can barely breathe. Or when Warner sends me hurtling back to a safe, uncomplicated time in my life with a caring smile alone.

Inching my head closer to his, I relish in the torment of Hyland’s breath whispering over my skin. Weeks’ worth of loaded looks and gruff, reluctant smiles have built a tension inside me that I wasn’t prepared to acknowledge before.

Then Axel happened.

That tension fucking exploded.