Page 38 of Wonder

“Things happen for a reason.” My words are gruff. “We’ve survived so far, Aid. I wouldn’t give up hope just yet.”

“Don’t do anything stupid.” He looks at me, then. His blue eyes – so fucking familiar, a mirror reflection of my own, pin me in place. “I mean it, Kayden.”

I jerk my head in a nod. I don’t look in his direction. We can read each other too easily for me to hide the truth from him.

If only one of us has a chance… it’s going to be him.

I’ll make sure of it.

15 - Chess

Ifollow Lyss to the small bathroom attached to the side of our cell and stand outside, daring anyone else to even try to get in.

I count the beds as I wait, scanning the people locked in here with us, my gaze hard. Ten, with preppy boy’s body still cooling on the floor.

Ten of us. And one of her.

My eyes travel over the ragtag group, assessing, before snagging on that asshole.

OrHatter, as Lyss mumbled in introduction, avoiding my eyes before escaping into the bathroom.

I preferthat asshole.

He’s sat on the bed, murmuring to Buck opposite. He turns as if he can feel my eyes on him, but I turn away.

Buck might turn out to be some sort of ally – and I have a feeling we’ll need whatever we can get. Buthim, I don’t want anywhere near her.

Possessiveness grips my throat. It makes me twist to pen Lyss in with my arms as she tries to walk past me on her way out.

Her eyes shutter. “This isn’t the time, Chess. In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re fighting for our lives here.”

I push her tangled hair out of her face. “Not right this second, we’re not.”

Lyss inhales as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her in “Chess.”

I rest my chin on top of her head. “Still a perfect fit, Lyss. You’re still my jigsaw piece. Don’t forget.”

Slowly, her arms slip around my back, even as she sighs. But she rests her head against my chest. “I’m sorry I went to Wonder without you. I just… I just wanted toknow.”

My own throat closes over at the emotion that shakes her words. “Did you find anything?”

“No,” she whispers. “Red – she knew something about Adam. I could tell. But she wasn’t telling me.”

I run my hand over her hair. “I want to know too, Lyss. But for now – we need to focus on ourselves. On getting out of here.”

On getting her out of here, although I know she’d shred me at the suggestion. My entire focus is on the woman in my arms, and working out how I can get her out of this safely.

I can’t lose her too.

She nods. “About… about Hatter.”

I stiffen. All of a sudden, I’m not I want to hear whatever it is she has to tell me about fuckingHatter.

“Like you said. It’s not the right time. We’ll… we’ll talk about it after.”

I don’t want to talk about the fact that his eyes haven’t moved from her since he woke up. Buck is stalking her too. They both follow her around with their gazes like a pair of suicidal moths drawn to the light.

I frown. “When we get out of here, though, we’re going to have alongconversation. No running away this time.”