little fire show did you? Feeling better now?”
He, no wait, they were watching what happened? The beast clawed at my chest, wanting its release again, and I clenched my fists. I couldn’t allow this dog’s cruel, cutting words to affect me. Daniel grasped my hand, and Koda blocked the green-eyed monster from my view.
“What’s this? You now have your own bodyguards? I’ve never met anyone more—”
“Enough!” Callon growled. He stormed forward from the corner of the hall. Nakari followed behind him, her emerald eyes avoiding mine. She stopped just to the right of Callon, her shoulder touching his.
My chest tightened. Was she afraid of me? Did she still think I was going to hurt her, or was it something else?
“She nearly got Andre killed and you’re not going to say anything?!” Maes demanded. His footsteps grew closer.
“She didn’t do anything, Maes,” Callon snapped. “You heard what Skylar said. There’s something in the water. Cheyenne had nothing to do with it.”
I inhaled a shaky breath, pushed Koda aside, and pulled away from Daniel. Lilly and Dex rushed forward, but I sidestepped them.
“I’m a total and complete failure, Maes.” My throat tightened as I was fighting to hold back my rage. “Is this what you wanted to hear? I’m sorry I’m not following your rules and that I’m mourning Colt’s death longer than you deem appropriate. I’m sorry that you think I didn’t do enough to help Andre. I’m sorry for being such a horrid person since everyone arrived here.” I met his green eyes. “I’m sorry I can’t be what you want me to be.”
“Stop apologizing, Cheyenne. We’re not forcing all this pressure on you,” Callon said. “Stop doing this to yourself.” He reached for me, and the creature inside rose its head.
“How dare you, you hypocrite!” My hand rose and came down hard against his cheek. “The only way to defeat Marcus, the sole living Kvech heir…that’s all you’ve said from the start! Don’t even think about turning the blame onto me! You did this, you, you, you!”
I stared, shocked , afraid, and humiliated at what I’d just done. So much for wanting to start over. My hand began throbbing, and I ran from the room. I raced up the stairs, knowing Callon wasn’t far behind me. I couldn’t breathe by the time I’d reached my bedroom door and slammed it shut behind me.
What was I becoming? Daniel had just told me I was the one driving this family apart , and it was as if his words didn’t matter. I sat on my bed facing the terrace, my breath still ragged. This anger coursing through me…it was too much. I couldn’t control it.
The landing outside my door creaked. Callon was there, but he hadn’t entered yet. Would he? Or would he walk away again when I needed him most? Why did my mind and heart feel like a jumbled mess?
The cool night air drifted through the opened terrace doors, and my bedroom door creaked open. He’d come inside, but did I truly want him here? I lowered my head, my shoulders slumped forward and I clasped my fingers together tightly. I’d made a mess of things again. I sensed his eyes on my back, waiting, unsure.
“Why can’t you understand?” I whispered.
He moved closer, and I held up my hand.
“Don’t come near me.” I knew what I was doing, hiding, running to the only safe spot I knew.
“Cheyenne, why?” Callon pleaded. His hands ran through his hair. “All I want to do is help you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
The beast surged again.
“Liar!” I clenched my fingers into fists as the whirlwind of the last few days came to life again. “You don’t help me. You hurt me. You’ve never told me the truth. You’ve manhandled me like a piece of meat. You’ve never asked about my feelings or thoughts, and just treat me like a puppet to bow to your whims.” The incident at the lake flew into my mind and tears began to pour without my consent. I couldn’t stop my voice from quivering. “You
He, no wait, they were watching what happened? The beast clawed at my chest, wanting its release again, and I clenched my fists. I couldn’t allow this dog’s cruel, cutting words to affect me. Daniel grasped my hand, and Koda blocked the green-eyed monster from my view.
“What’s this? You now have your own bodyguards? I’ve never met anyone more—”
“Enough!” Callon growled. He stormed forward from the corner of the hall. Nakari followed behind him, her emerald eyes avoiding mine. She stopped just to the right of Callon, her shoulder touching his.
My chest tightened. Was she afraid of me? Did she still think I was going to hurt her, or was it something else?
“She nearly got Andre killed and you’re not going to say anything?!” Maes demanded. His footsteps grew closer.
“She didn’t do anything, Maes,” Callon snapped. “You heard what Skylar said. There’s something in the water. Cheyenne had nothing to do with it.”
I inhaled a shaky breath, pushed Koda aside, and pulled away from Daniel. Lilly and Dex rushed forward, but I sidestepped them.
“I’m a total and complete failure, Maes.” My throat tightened as I was fighting to hold back my rage. “Is this what you wanted to hear? I’m sorry I’m not following your rules and that I’m mourning Colt’s death longer than you deem appropriate. I’m sorry that you think I didn’t do enough to help Andre. I’m sorry for being such a horrid person since everyone arrived here.” I met his green eyes. “I’m sorry I can’t be what you want me to be.”
“Stop apologizing, Cheyenne. We’re not forcing all this pressure on you,” Callon said. “Stop doing this to yourself.” He reached for me, and the creature inside rose its head.
“How dare you, you hypocrite!” My hand rose and came down hard against his cheek. “The only way to defeat Marcus, the sole living Kvech heir…that’s all you’ve said from the start! Don’t even think about turning the blame onto me! You did this, you, you, you!”
I stared, shocked , afraid, and humiliated at what I’d just done. So much for wanting to start over. My hand began throbbing, and I ran from the room. I raced up the stairs, knowing Callon wasn’t far behind me. I couldn’t breathe by the time I’d reached my bedroom door and slammed it shut behind me.
What was I becoming? Daniel had just told me I was the one driving this family apart , and it was as if his words didn’t matter. I sat on my bed facing the terrace, my breath still ragged. This anger coursing through me…it was too much. I couldn’t control it.
The landing outside my door creaked. Callon was there, but he hadn’t entered yet. Would he? Or would he walk away again when I needed him most? Why did my mind and heart feel like a jumbled mess?
The cool night air drifted through the opened terrace doors, and my bedroom door creaked open. He’d come inside, but did I truly want him here? I lowered my head, my shoulders slumped forward and I clasped my fingers together tightly. I’d made a mess of things again. I sensed his eyes on my back, waiting, unsure.
“Why can’t you understand?” I whispered.
He moved closer, and I held up my hand.
“Don’t come near me.” I knew what I was doing, hiding, running to the only safe spot I knew.
“Cheyenne, why?” Callon pleaded. His hands ran through his hair. “All I want to do is help you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
The beast surged again.
“Liar!” I clenched my fingers into fists as the whirlwind of the last few days came to life again. “You don’t help me. You hurt me. You’ve never told me the truth. You’ve manhandled me like a piece of meat. You’ve never asked about my feelings or thoughts, and just treat me like a puppet to bow to your whims.” The incident at the lake flew into my mind and tears began to pour without my consent. I couldn’t stop my voice from quivering. “You
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