Page 116 of Solar Shadows

Tony lowered his arms, gliding over to me, triumph emanating from him. “No one’s coming, babe. It’s just us here.”

Had he read my mind?

He pressed the back of his hand against my cheek. My skin crawled with a billion bugs, my stomach roiling from his sickly warm touch.

Get off me!

“Don’t worry, I can’t take your power,” he added, stroking me.

What a fucking monster. Shame on me for texting him, considering being with him again.

The solar pricks lowered me to the ground.

“Only use it,” Tony continued. “Even if you hadn’t texted me, I was always going to come for you. I need you, and you’ll need me. You’ll see my becoming and you’ll beg to be on my arm.” He crouched down and kissed my mouth. If it wasn’t for the filth coursing through my system, I’d be breaking every bone in his body.

“Delicious,” he said. “You’ll be giving me plenty of kisses before long, babe. And you don’t need to beg me. I love you. I love you so much.”

If only I could scream and puke and peel his face from his fucking skull.

Tony stepped back, the magic in his hands richer. He lifted his hands and cried, “Rejoin!”

And just like that, he was back in control of my body.

Chapter 39

OLLIE

“Why aren’t you asleep?” Dirk asked, cracking his knuckles.

Keepings tabs on my anger, I went to move around his vehicle.

He moved to block me. “You ain’t going anywhere.” He spat on the ground, hate emanating from him.

“Get out of my way,” I bit back with zero patience.

He laughed, spitting again. “You scared, pussy boy?” He looked me up and down like I was dog crap. “Or are you trying to start things up with Ben again?” His hateful expression shifted to something more akin to jealousy—enough to send a shiver of goosebumps up my arms.

“Move,” I retorted.

His eyes flashed, his lips drawn back into a snarl.

“Move. Now.”

He pulled out his gun, aiming it at my head. “Don’t fuck with me, Ollie. I ain’t taking your shit.” He sniffed, his hands shaking. “You want him back. You’re going over there to beg for another chance, and it makes me sick.”

Time was running out. I didn’t need this nonsense. “I’m not interested in Ben. There’s something I have to do.”

“Yeah, him! You want to do him!” he roared, waving his gun around.

Right, there’d be no reasoning with this fool. So, I waited for my chance to strike, my hands tight fists.

Don’t worry, Isaac. I’m coming.

As annoying as Dirk was, this whole thing was a gift. If I took him down, I could take the car and get to The Sun in no time.

Dirk aimed his weapon at me again, spitting some more. “Orders are to wait here, make sure no one crosses this point in either direction. You ain’t going to Ben or anyone.”

Maybe Dirk hurt a lot more than me over Ben.