Page 151 of Stand: Part One

I grunted in response. “What’s that, locking me away all the time?” I added sarcastically, my tone unamused.

“No. It was training you,” he answered pointedly. Pausing internally, I suddenly felt compelled to sit up and look him in the eye for this one, sure I had heard him wrong. But he continued unfazed. “You’ve managed to save yourself without me or anyone else’s help more times than I’d like to remember, and I owe that to your ability to strategically utilize everything I’ve taught you.” Wait. Was he…was he actually acknowledging my capabilities? First, I’m right, and now I’m skilled? What the hell is happening? “This is going to go straight to your pretty little head, but you’ve turned out to be quite the little protégé,” he snarked. “I’m actually very proud of all you’ve managed to do by yourself, even if it doesn’t seem like it.”

Protégé…wow.

I dipped my chin, leveling him with a serious expression, remembering something he had once forced me to choke on not too long ago. “But not enough to admit I don’t actually need you to survive anymore.”

The energy from his body turned dark, his eyes brewing with a storm that promised so much degradation for that bold little comment. Slowly, he leaned forward from his seat, causing me to slightly lean away as he captured more of my space.

“I would never be so bold as to presume such a foolish claim,” he nearly growled, the deep timbre of his voice matching the intensity of his gaze. “And I am not willing to taunt it so recklessly.”

I couldn’t mistake the double innuendo if I tried. But he was right. I was reckless, and stubborn, and foolish, and fresh out of fucks to give for any of it. And my ability to still meet him eye for eye said it all, the curl of my lips deviously unapologetic.

“I honestly thought hell would freeze over before you finally gave me even just a crumb of validation,” I replied.

“Feeding your ego is counterproductive. I push you as hard as I do for a reason.”

“Well, I’m glad to know I’m at least finally worthy of your acknowledgment,” I said, my tone taking on a sarcastic lilt.

He nodded. “Yes, and now that I have inflated your ego, I’m afraid I’m going to have to deflate it.”

I frowned at him. “What do you mean?” I nearly screeched, tilting my head. “Don’t backtrack now! Not when my praise kink is nearly satisfied.”

Darren shook his head. “You are such a fucking brat,” he scorned, rolling his eyes, but entertained my humor anyway. “Leaving you satisfied in that demand would devastate the cause of keeping you striving for my approval. So if that’s what you’re after, then this next leap should be easy.”

I cocked a brow at him. “What are you talking about?”

He took his hands and wrapped them around my hips, clutching me tightly. “You need to understand that things are about to change. And all that validation I just gave you needs to be packed away along with your pride because as this war escalates, I expect your survival strategies to adapt accordingly.”

Pushing aside my irritation, I considered my words carefully, vying for the right opportunity to present itself.

“What the hell is it you want me to do?”

Darren’s gaze was hard, his eyes so intense it made me fight a shiver from erupting up my spine.

“I need you to keep yourself safe.”

I rolled my eyes at the obvious. “That’s usually my first objective.”

“No, it isn’t. When your fight or flight gets triggered, you always choose fight. And I am telling you to choose the latter.”

I cocked a brow, surprised by this new demand. “You want me to run?”

“Yes. Run. Hide. Don’t look back.”

“That’s pretty counterproductive, don’t you think?”

He shook his head. “I can’t focus on the fight if I don’t know whether or not you’re safe. So from now on, your objective is to accomplish that. Get yourself to a secure location and stay there until I come for you. Is that understood?”

I jerked back in utter disbelief. What the fuck! After gifting me with those hearty breadcrumbs of sweet, sweet validation, he wanted me to just dump it all in the trash and hide like some fucking mouse?

After everything I had endured, now I was expected to just sit the fight out, shelter and hide like a good little girl? Fuck that.

“You want me to hide until you come get me? What if you never come? What am I supposed to do then?”

His eyes blazed like I had insulted him. Hooking his two fingers under my collar, he jerked me forward. “I will always come for you. Never doubt that, Jaden. Ever.”

I groaned, irritation burrowing at my temples. “Okay, but what good will hiding do when you literally just said that the only measure with a 100 percent success rate has been me.”