I didn’t bother waiting for him to respond. Instead, I glanced down at Amber, her eyes wide and panicked, her body jerky while she walked. I swiped an arm underneath her legs, picking her up and cradling her to my chest as I walked down the hall. She kept a tight grip on my neck, and I mouthed I’ve got her to Hannah and Jake, who gaped at us from across the room.

I’d owe Jake for the door, but I couldn’t care less.

I set Amber into the passenger seat of my car and drove. As far away from the place as I could. Like the distance would erase the situation.

Amber was silent, inside her head the entire ride to my house.

I didn’t push. I knew better.

My pixie, impossible to catch. She had to come to me.

Always.

She let me take her hand and lead her up to my room, a deep sigh flowing past her lips when I’d settled her onto my bed. I took a seat in the chair at my desk, watching her. Waiting.

The gears behind her eyes clicked and churned. She opened her mouth a few times before those beautiful lips popped closed. A frustrated groan and she shoved her palms against her eyes.

I went to her and pulled her hands from her face.

“Pixie,” I whispered, brushing some tears off her cheeks.

She groaned again. “I’m sorry, Dean,” she said. “This is like the third time you’ve wiped away my tears. I swear I’m not doing this crap on purpose.”

I furrowed my brow and shook my head. “I don’t care,” I said, holding her face in my hands, forcing her to look in my eyes. “As many times as it takes.” I swiped my thumb under her eye. “As long as it takes.” I trailed my index finger in the path of wetness. “I’ll be here. Doing whatever is in my power to help you.”

Her eyes glittered again, more so, if that was possible.

“You don’t have to,” she said. “I…” Anger sharpened her features. “I’m okay. I am. I stopped him on my own. Stood up to him. Shut him down. I just thought I was stronger than this. That my hate would prevent me from”—she held out her trembling fingers, gesturing to the way her entire body still shook—“this reaction.”

“You can’t possibly control it,” I said, interlacing our fingers in her lap.

“I should be able to,” she said, her eyes lilting to the side.

“Do you…?” I pressed my lips together before continuing, not wanting to push her. “Can you tell me about what went down tonight?”

Another shiver raked her body, and I pulled her into my lap, trying like hell to double my size and envelop her. Instead, I folded my arms around her, my chest absorbing the shock from her vibrations.