Page 85 of On Edge

From his tousled dark blonde hair and too sharp cheekbones, to the shadow of stubble over his angled jaw and those mossy green eyes that a girl could fall into and never come out of, I realize it; everything about him is unfairly attractive. Of course, anyone would want to kiss him. Anyone drawn to danger and male pheromones. The realization hits me like a dash on the rocks that I never had a chance. So why does it still feel like I’m lying to myself?

All of a sudden, the heat feels blistering, and I need to get out of the room.

“Troy—”

“This isn’t a fairytale, Sage. I’m not the man you think I am, so you need to stop whatever it is you think you’re doing.”

“I’m not—” I look away, eyeing the door.

“I won’t save you if you fall.”

I give an involuntary flinch.“I don’t need you to.” But I barely say it.

“Good.” The word is almost gentle, which makes it ten times worse. When I look back, his gaze has dropped to my hand, to his ring on my finger, glinting in the firelight.

“Don’t ever—” He corrects himself. “Don’t take that off.”

I open my mouth to say something, but then stop, biting my lip. My mind is a mess. For once, Nell has nothing to say either.

“Not until we’re done here. And then you can leave.”

I nod. It’s all I can do.

He exhales, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “Look. It’s just a fake marriage. When it’s over, and you know where you want to go, Mundel will take you there. A friend’s house, maybe.”

My mind runs away to turning up at Laine and Jaxon’s glass mansion on the hill in a chopper. Jaxon would have kittens. Laine would love it.

“No rush. Just think about where you’d like to go. There’s a storm coming and a wedding, apparently. After that, we’re done.”

He comes closer, towering over me, momentarily shielding me from the fire’s heat. The instant coolness makes me shiver even though I feel feverish.

“But let me make one thing clear”—his dark green eyes glint like knives in the firelight—“you’re never going back to him.”

Does he mean my father?

I don’t get to ask.

He stalks out, taking his dog with him. The fire stays bright, popping away at me, but now I’m alone, all warmth seems to leach from my bones. I stay facing the hearth, clutching my knees tighter, feeling tired all of a sudden.

I have no clue how to process everything he just said. It’s like he was speaking a foreign language.

What was he making sure of? Why doesn’t he want me to go back to my father?

All the things I know and don’t understand snarl inside my head. Untangling it feels hopeless. I put my head on my knees and squeeze shut my eyes, trying to shove it all out.

I don’t want to think anymore. I don’t want to be here.You have to do it tonight.Nell reminds me.You know where he sleeps.

As if killing him would fix everything. With what, though? I don’t have a weapon.

Yes, you do. Look around.

My head turns, my eyes drawn to the hot poker beside the fire, still glowing red at the tip. And then the razor I stole, tucked out of sight under the cushions—so many ways to kill him.

I just have to pick one.

20

TROY