Page 198 of The Curse Trilogy

My eyes continue trying to see through the smoke where only my ears are guiding me. Grayson’s grip becomes more insistent as does his tone.

“Who did?”

“Hale. His savage took over for a minute. I need to find him to make sure the olophine brought him down.”

“Fuck. He can blow shit up? I thought you used your gift thingy to throw some dynamite or something at them.”

“Stop talking, and help me find him!” I admonish.

“Hale!” I scream in panic.

“I’m over here,” he snaps, and I rush in the direction of his voice until I plow into him, my head thudding against his chest.

His hands wrap around me to keep me from falling after my accidental collision, and then I pull his face down to check his eyes. He jerks his head away, and then he pushes me off him angrily.

Damn. He’s not my Hale anymore.

“I’m fine, Araya. Just go check on the others,” he barks.

Tears try to sting my eyes as if disappointment has just stabbed me through my heart. His eyes cast daggers when they offer me one last glance, and then they avoid me completely. I almost wish he was savage. Savage Hale can’t keep any secrets from me. Savage Hale loves me no matter what, and he can’t fight any feelings for me.

“I was just worried you were-”

“I said I’m fine,” he snarls, and then he darts off toward the compound, leaving me to shiver in the chill he left behind.

I take a deep, steadying breath before turning to see some of the smoke has lifted. The fallen towers and crumbling stones litter the ground that once only held dust and sand. Angelica is helping to disperse packs of blood, and Grayson kisses her on top of the head as he lowers down to help her.

Tears have started rolling down her cheeks from the horrific sights her sheltered eyes have never before seen. I look away when I see Nicholas jogging over to me.

“It’s a damn good thing he was here. They would have killed us all.” I wouldn’t have let them. “These men are part of a blood running gang I’ve been tracking for years. It’s amazing your friend wasn’t killed earlier.”

You don’t know how strong Hale is.

My eyes and mouth wince in unison when my heart glitches, and like the traitor it is, swoons for the explosively sexy hybrid. Then my foolish heart remembers Hale doesn’t love me - he cheated on me - and it folds over before crumbling, the shattered pieces dripping down to make me sick at my stomach. I grip my chest as though it really will dull the pain, but I shake it off before Nicholas notices.

“How do you know these men are from the same crew you were looking for?” I ask curiously.

“The tat-”

“I need your help over here, Araya,” Grayson calls to interrupt the conversation between Nicholas and me.

I rush over to join him and Angelica, while Nicholas runs off to start tending to the others. Hale just disappeared without helping at all. That’s not like him. He always helps with the aftermath.

Please be okay.

I’m beyond exhausted now that we’ve had to treat so many people and clean up the mess left behind. The sun isn’t far from rising as I climb out of the shower, the red pool still staining my drain. I’ve washed away the death, blood, and despair from my hair and skin while rejuvenating my weary body slightly with the delicious warmth of its wet kisses.

I wring my hair out with the towel before slipping into a slinky black laced camisole and pulling on a pair of matching underwear. The promise of a foggy mind calls to me, and I pull out a glass and a bottle of wine to wind down. I’ve earned a glass of wine, and the reddish purple fills my glass with excitement.

Just as I feel the gentle burn entering my mouth, my door opens. I gasp slightly, and then I huff when I see Hale walking in. His delicious body is only covered by the low-waist jeans he has intentionally left unbuttoned, and I roll my eyes before turning away.

“Go away, Captain Banner,” I sigh out. “I don’t feel like arguing right now.”

I hear the click of my door as it locks, and I turn back to stare at him, my eyes scolding his back. Very slowly, he turns to face me, and… well… Damn. My mouth goes dry despite the gulp of wine I’ve almost inhaled as I stare into his very dilated eyes.

“I hate it when you call me that. And… I’m not going anywhere,” he smolders out, and I know there’s no way I can fight him without risking the lives of everyone here.

Would I fight him anyways?