Page 107 of Lock

“We kidnapped you,” I said. “Dragged you out of your bed. Locked you behind our gates. And this is where you draw the line?”

His face went fully red.

“I didn’t say—” he started, then stopped, flustered. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know,” I said.

Ember smiled to herself and stepped back. “I’m going to go finish get some rest before Wraith loses his mind.”

She leaned in and murmured something in Kellan’s ear. He nodded again, quieter this time.

When she passed me, she paused just long enough to say, “Don’t fuck this up.”

I met her gaze. “I won’t.”

She turned and headed for their bedroom. And then it was just me and Kellan.

Neither of us broke the silence at first.

Kellan’s fingers tightened around his cup. “I really am sorry,” he said. “If my dad hadn’t?—”

“This isn’t on you,” I said, firmer than before. “You don’t carry his sins.”

Or mine…

He looked up at me then. Really looked. Like he was trying to decide if I meant it.

“I hate that people got hurt because of me,” he said.

“They got hurt because your father made choices,” I replied. “Same as mine.”

That shut him up.

Good.

I stepped closer. Not crowding him. Just enough to remind him I was there.

“You should be resting,” I added.

“So should you,” he shot back.

That earned him another breath of a laugh.

“Come with me,” I said.

He hesitated. “Where?”

“My room.”

His throat bobbed.

“Okay,” he said quietly.

The walk there felt longer than it should have. Not because it was far, but because my head wouldn’t shut up.

Tomorrow could go wrong. Rowan was unpredictable as fuck. He could refuse the trade. He could try to force my hand.

And if that happened?—