Page 51 of The Curse Trilogy

I very solemnly make my way out the door, and I gasp when I step outside to meet the sad eyes of an all but forgotten full blood. Brazen’s suit is pristine, fitting him with the same detail a king would be acquainted with, but it doesn’t well to mask his pain.

“Hey,” he softly offers, and my stomach flips over and over.

“Hey,” I mumble, and I turn to walk down the hall as quickly as I can.

He blurs to be in front of me, and his hands grip my waist before pulling me to his body.

“Please talk to me,” he pleads in his soft, incredible voice.

“The last time we talked I almost killed you. I think it’s best if we avoid each other for a while.”

Tears threaten my eyes, and his soft lips press against my forehead while his cold hand cups my face.

“The last time we talked I said something I’ll forever regret. I’m so sorry, and I just want you to come back to me,” he coos. “I shouldn’t have assumed you did something wrong, and I never meant to drive you into his arms. You don’t belong with him no matter what Clay says,” he grumbles, and his grip on me tightens.

“Clay never said I belong to Hale, and I’m not in his arms. We’ve mended our old scars by becoming friends. I’m just staying here because there aren’t any other rooms available right now. He’s sleeping on the couch.”

At least he tries to.

I’ve woken up every morning with his arms around me because I scream for him every night in my sleep.

“You can stay with me in our room. I’ll be leaving late tonight, but I’ll be back in a few days,” he smoothly rolls out, and his lips graze mine just barely before he pulls me into a deep kiss.

I push him back while shaking my head.

“Brazen, what happened that night reminded me how dangerous I can be. This has never been a good idea. I know how your kind feel about mine, and I knew this would eventually happen. I didn’t want to admit it because you seemed almost too perfect to be true.”

“I’m not perfect, baby. I really fucked up, and I know it was one of the worst things I could have said. I know what you had to endure growing up in our merciless world, and in a moment of sheer drunken fury, I used it against you. Please just come back. I want to show you how much I love you,” he chokes out, and I continue to back away, tears staining my eyes.

“Please don’t do this right now. I’m doing good to keep myself in check as it is,” I whimper. “I need time, space, and more to drink than I’ve had.”

I whip by him, and then I feel his hand holding mine. “I’ll give you time and space. I’m not scared of you. I need you, and I don’t want this to be the end for us. I won’t let it be,” he releases in a breathless fit. “If you can be friends with him, then you can be friends with me too.”

“This is all still too fresh. I can’t,” I whine, and he kisses the back of my hand while turning into the main room where the cadets are lined up on the small stage on the back side of the glamorous room decorated in gold.

“I’m not giving you up,” he murmurs against my ear. “You look amazing.”

His hands slide around my waist while pulling me to him tighter.

“You have to give me up,” I whisper, and his arms tighten all the more as we sway to the music.

A tear falls free when he kisses the top of my head once more, and I push him back lightly.

“I’m not ready for this,” I murmur, and he tilts my chin up so that my eyes are forced to meet his.

“I’ll be here whenever you are,” he coos, and he takes a step dangerously close to me.

“There she is,” Clay inserts, and he swishes me free from the clutches of the full blood that broke my heart. “I need to dance with the girl trying to leave Seminole when this is where she’s needed.”

“You’re leaving?” Brazen quickly interjects.

My eyes scold Clay for revealing the secret I’ve only told Hale, and then I turn to face Brazen.

“I don’t know yet. All I did was send in a résumé,” I grumble.

“To where? I’ll get transferred,” he asserts, and I feel my stomach flip once again.

“Don’t do this right now, please,” I whimper.