I grabbed my glass again and drank every single drop left. “Because I don’t want to take the risk. I’ll never forget how it feels to be powerless, to dig in a garbage can for food, to be at the mercy of someone bigger and stronger than you. I hate what we do to those girls as much as you do. But there is no other way. I care a lot more about my power than their lives. Yes, that means I’ll be damned, but we both know I was damned a long time ago.” I rose to my feet and left the sitting area. “I’m not having this conversation anymore. I made my choice, and you’ve clearly made yours. Come back to the camp, and I’ll do what I have to…and I guess you’ll do what you have to.”

Twenty-Five

Exile

Melanie

I watched his car pull around.

It was a warm summer evening. The sun had just dipped behind the horizon, casting the sky in a beautiful array of colors. Butterflies were visible above the garden. The smooth sounds of the fountain were the background, gentle music to this beautiful and historic place.

But my heart hadn’t felt peace since he’d left.

He’d threatened to kill Magnus, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I couldn’t warn Raven. I just had to have faith that his love was stronger than his fury.

He left the car behind and marched to me.

Livid.

His eyes were dark. His arms swung by his sides. His jaw was tight.

My heart started to race in fear.

Instead of walking up to me, he maneuvered around me, ignoring me just the way he had before he left.

I went after him. “What happened?”

He continued to ignore me.

“Fender.” I grabbed his wrist and stopped him before he moved to the steps. “Don’t ignore me.”

He released a loud sigh before he turned back to me, not a drop of love in his eyes.

“It’s me.” I gently pulled him closer, wanting an embrace after his long absence. I rose on my tiptoes and cupped his face, pressing a kiss to his tight lips.

He was unresponsive.

I kissed the corner of his mouth several times, bringing us close together, enveloping him as an antidote to his rage.

His hands moved to my waist.

His lips moved to mine.

Slowly, he came back to me, surrounding me in his strong embrace, smothering me with the love that I’d missed. His chin rested on my head as he held me in the foyer, his fingers lightly playing with my hair at my spine.

Once the man I loved was back, I pulled away and looked into his face, desperate for the answer I’d asked for.

His eyes were locked on to mine. “I didn’t kill him.”