Page 172 of The Curse Trilogy

I can’t tell him to go fuck himself like I want to because I don’t have the fight left in me. Then I hear something renewing my hope, my faith, and my will to live. I hear my name being screamed through the layers of earth covering us.

Then it happens. It’s not the savage they want. It’s just me. The walls crumble beneath my power as the cables strip from the rods protruding from my body. The puddles of water slosh as the ground begins shaking violently from a force I’ve never possessed while sober. The screams of the man in front of me cry out for help before I launch him into the wall so hard it forces his body to explode.

Snapping promises of freedom erupt as the underground facility staggers like a drunken fool. The walls of my prison quickly shake into rubble under my ungodly force, and more screams erupt just as the explosive wave bursts free from my body to decimate all left standing. The few survivors feel my hand as it rips their throat away, and the blood stains my hand with pride as I claw my way to the top.

The fireworks of freedom sound out as bullets whiz through my few standing attackers. He’s here. He found me. Hale.

“Hale!” I scream, and my face is drenched in tears upon wakening to the dark room.

“I’m here,” he coos.

The warm arms already holding me to a chest surprise me, and I look up just as Hale’s lips find my forehead. I sob hard into his chest, and he pulls me tighter to him.

“I’ve been trying to wake you up for over ten minutes. Please tell me you’re okay,” he worries, and my lips attack his in search of the comfort I need.

He doesn’t fight me. He pulls me into him, and his lips devour mine like he needs me as much as I need him right now. I pull him to be on top of me, and my hands scour his shirtless body as he slides my shorts down. I feel his erection begging to push inside me, and I ache to feel his incredible force.

Just when I think I’m about to have him, he leaps free from the bed. He slumps down in a corner, and I sit up rattled and dazed.

“Why won’t you just be with me?” I cry, and he shakes his head while keeping his eyes low.

“Stop trying to be with me, Araya. Right now isn’t a good time.”

“Just tell me why. Please,” I beg. “I’m going crazy trying to figure it out on my own. Is there someone else?”

Please say no. Please say no.

“Just stop chasing me. Go be with Brazen,” he murmurs, and my heart breaks into pieces when those words escape his lips.

“Where did you go? Just fucking tell me,” I blare, and I jerk my shorts back on to provide me with some dignity.

He is with someone else.

“You really want to know?” he snarks.

“Yes. I’m desperate to know.”

“I went with Alex. Are you happy? She called, and I went to her the night of your birthday party. She seduced me then just like she did three years ago, and I let her because I’m not like you, Araya. I’m a real fucked up hybrid incapable of being in love. Now fucking forget about me,” he growls, and I react before I realize what I’m doing.

He’s suddenly flying through the wall to his own home, and everything on the walls rattles off in both apartments.

“You want to hurt me, then do it. Do whatever makes you feel better,” he chokes out. “Do whatever will make you get over me.”

My eyes have poured all the more tears, and I just stop everything. I grab a vial of olophine, and I quickly inject myself while Angelica and Grayson peek in to see what’s going on.

“Araya? Are you okay?” Angelica trembles out.

“Holy… fuck,” Grayson drags out while staring at the mess I’ve made in merging the two apartments.

“Go back to bed. I’m sorry. I need to go for a drive,” I mumble, and Hale rushes to me to stop me before I make it to the door.

“You can’t go outside the compound this late,” he says too softly. “It’s dangerous.”

“The only ones in danger are the ones who cross me right now. I’ll hurt someone if I stay here. Let me go,” I cry, and I see the heaps of pain in his eyes for having crushed me.

“Araya, please don’t-”

I slam the door before he finishes, and I throw myself over the wall instead of taking the stairs. I land on my feet, and I just pray the keys are in the SUV. There’s only one person in the world I trust right now, and he’s an hour away - thirty minutes if I drive like Hale. I need those comforting arms around me right now. I wanted closure - I’ve sure as fuck got it now.