Page 172 of Fractured Future

“I don’t like people lying to me.”

“Lying is such a strong word.”

“What would you call it?” His jaw visibly tics.

Nearing him, I tilt my neck to drink in his ruggedness. Even when he’s driving me up the wall with his possessive ways, it’s impossible not to appreciate his marble-carved looks.

“Um, temporarily withholding the truth?”

“You’re turning into Axel with that self-deluding crap.”

Resting a hand on his bicep, I adopt a more serious tone. “I really am sorry. What I did was wrong. I had my reasons, but that doesn’t make it right.”

“You should’ve trusted us!”

“You’re right.”

Overcome with a rush of guilt, I resolve to confide in him. For all his quirks, Hyland cares deeply. I know I’ve hurt him, and I hate the thought that I’ve caused him pain.

“I didn’t trust you,” I admit. “Or anyone else, for that matter. I had to keep this secret to avoid being discarded like faulty goods. Only that would’ve entailed my execution or worse.”

“We’re not Gael, Ember.”

“I know you’re not, but after all these years… the lie was ingrained in me. And I was scared. Far too scared to even admit to the symptoms I’ve had.”

“So you suffered in silence,” he surmises.

“Can you really blame me?”

Stumped by my question, Hyland huffs in irritation. His wide shoulders slump under the weight of his defeat settling into each honed muscle.

“I suppose not.”

“Then try having a bit of empathy for why I felt the need to lie,” I reply calmly. “I didn’t do it to be malicious or to hurt anyone.”

“You’re safe here, Em. You could’ve told us.”

“I know that now.”

“Do you?” he demands.

“Yes. I do.”

Fingers itching with the urge to stroke the golden spun silk that smothers his jawline, I internally celebrate when he tugs me into his chest. A massive hand finds my lower back to pin me against him.

“You’re such a stubborn creature.” His chin drops on top of my head. “Do you have any clue how fucking terrified I was to find you passed out like that? Inhisgoddamn arms?”

“I’m sorry, Hy.”

“Stop apologising. Just promise me you won’t take such a dumb risk again.”

“I won’t. It was foolish.”

“I’m not stupid enough to think I can keep you locked up here. But you need to be smart in this job.”

My cheek nuzzles his t-shirt. “I’ll be careful from now on. I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”

“That means telling us if you feel a seizure coming on,” he rumbles above me. “Even the slightest fucking twitch, Em. A tiny headache. A dizzy spell. Anything. You’ll come to me.”