Page 37 of Marks of Rebellion

She briefly closes her eyes. When she opens them, they are full of determination. "You're already talking about changing how you act around me. I had to change for him, and now I'm nothing like who I used to be. I won't do that to anyone else."

My jaw twitches under the tremors that speed up in her hand.

Is she breaking up with me?

She's not my girlfriend.

"Why do I get the impression you're telling me to go away?"

She sniffles. "I don't think I should be with anyone until I can function normally around people. It's not fair to you."

Blood pounds in my ears.

Stay calm.

"What does that mean exactly? Are you telling me to stay away from you?"

"No. But I don't think we should be doing anything anymore. You feel responsible for my issues, and they aren't yours."

"You're my target. You are my responsibility."

Hurt crosses her face. "You sleep with all your targets?"

"No. I've never slept with a target before."

She takes a deep breath. "Okay. So treat me like your typical targets and nothing more."

"But, you're not just any target to me."

A tear drips down her cheek. "Hunter, I'm screwed up."

"Stop saying that. You aren't. You've just been through a lot and need to give it some time."

"I am. You need to realize it. And I shouldn't involve anyone in my mess until I figure it out."

"Flower—"

"Please." She closes her eyes. "I've made up my mind."

She's been through enough.

I shouldn't pressure her to be with me.

I shouldn't have touched her. She's a target, and I put her in an uncomfortable position.

This is my fault.

Be the man she needs and not a selfish one.

"If this is what you want, then I'll give it to you." I lean down, kiss her forehead, and turn and leave.

Every step away from her twists the knife in my chest. Anything I could have done wrong, I did. And now she's paying the price for it.

I want to scream.

I want to hit something.

I want to wither up and hide from everyone.