Page 61 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Max

He doesn’t move closer to me and I, loudly, crash through the branches, stopping just short of a pace from his side.

No longer covered in blood, he’s changed, sword gone, eyes a blinding copper again. But the muscle in his jaw feathers, as if he’s holding himself back.

“And why is that?”

“You’re loud,” he says, eyes flickering to the spot I entered.

Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms. “Good thing I don’t hunt.”

“If you did, you’d starve.”

Snorting, I look around, white petals covering the thick grass. It’s so dark in the woods, it feels as if night has swallowed us whole. “Someone’s feeling cheeky. After the bloodshed, I’d thought you’d be too tired for quips.”

The heir smirks, facing outward, searching the trees. “You’ll realize, I’m never too tired for anything.” Those eyes turn heated and I clear my throat, cheeks bright red.

“Anyway,” I begin, ignoring his smug look. “Why are you out here? What happened to the rules?”

“Are you now worried about me?” A fang slips over his bottom lip, turning his handsome face devilish. “I’m touched, kitten.”

Scoffing, I wave him off. “Don’t flatter yourself. I merely came this way to clear my head.”

Turning, he appraises me, seeing more than I want him to. He always has. Only such a short time and yet, he sees all the darkness, all the bitterness. But instead of running, he embraces it.

“You don’t faint from blood,” he murmurs, thoughtful. “And I know battle doesn’t bother you. What happened?”

My heart beats once against my chest. “Nothing.”

He inhales smirking. “Remember what I said? Dark Fae can smell lies. It’s coating you now.”

“Maybe you just don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

Turning to me, he scans my face, my hands, down to my boots. “You don’t think I know you?”

“No,” I say defiantly. “I think you’re grasping at straws and hoping to be right.”

Twirling a loose strand of hair around his finger, he tugs me forward, toes pressed against his boots. “It’s not hard to know you, Max, because Iamyou. I’ve been feared my entire life. But unlike you, I don’t hope to suddenly be good. I don’t try to appease those who fear me, pray they’ll love me. I embrace my darkness and make others accept it.”

“You make me sound weak.” A little girl looking to belong. Hoping one day, the Coven will love me, accept me, if I do enough things right.

“Not weak,” he amends. “Just hopeful. Eventually, you’ll let it go and realize your true power, like I have.”

Dropping my hair, he steps away, eyes scanning the area again. He’s always on alert.

Tugging the shirt higher, I clear my throat. “What’s wrong?”

Kaden glances to me and back. “You first.”

Rolling my shoulders, I sigh. I did seek him out after all. Sharing makes me uncomfortable, but thereisn’t anyone else who would get it.

“My magic,” I say, gesturing with my hands, “is uncontrollable. And here, it’s either give in or?—”

“Die,” he finishes, nodding. “And let me guess. Your Witch isn’t fond of your magic.”

“Taylay has magic,” I defend. “He understands how rare it is. How there is such little information on possessing such things. But he doesn’t…” I trail off, thoughts heavy. “He doesn’tgetit.”

“Why would he?” He scoffs, peering down at me. “Anything that seems dangerous or dark, Witches tend to lap together. Your magic is rare but it doesn’t benefit them, so it must be evil. Therefore,youmust be evil.”