Tears stream from my eyes as I try to climb back in the car, and then a new voice interjects itself.
“Please come back, Araya,” Grayson murmurs softly, his eyes weighted by sleepless nights and heavy burdens.
“You too? I’m surprised to see you here since you’re her counter,” I say with complete disgust rolling around in the back of my throat.
“I love her, Araya. I was just doing what I thought was best. She begged me not to get Brazen or Hale involved, but I did it because I wanted to find a way to coax you into understanding. Since you left, she’s been cold, distant, and almost non responsive to me. She moved back in with Nicholas, and she is fighting the order to move to Seminole. She doesn’t want me with her anymore. She said so herself.”
My heart almost breaks for him now. I know how bad that rejection feels, and my eyes narrow at Hale.
“Guilt? You’re going to guilt me into coming home?”
“I didn’t ask him to do this, Araya,” Hale sighs.
“No. I begged to come. I was waiting in the car, but when Brazen got back he said we’d be here for a while. Against his orders, I ran out here. I’m desperate to be with Angelica. She doesn’t feel like she deserves my love. She doesn’t feel like she deserves to be upset, in pain, or even mad.”
“Let me guess, that’s all my fault because of what I said. Good grief.”
“I didn’t say that, but I think your words definitely had an impact. She wasn’t a forgotten but I was. Angelica is the first person to ever love me. Don’t make me lose that because you’re pissed,” he almost scolds, and now the guilt I should be feeling starts creeping in.
“What the hell am I supposed to do? Show up and play house with her and Nicholas. I can’t do that. I’m not okay with what happened. I don’t know if I ever will be. She’ll come around. She loves you, and you haven’t done anything wrong… unlike some jackass hybrids I know.”
I crank the car, and Grayson leans into the window.
“You did something wrong though. You took out your anger for Nicholas on her the moment you found out who she was. You’re jealous. It’s perfectly understandable to be jealous, but none of this was ever her fault. She’s trying, Araya. She’s trying so fucking hard to make amends, and she hasn’t done a fucking thing wrong. You can hate her for no reason if you want to. That’s your prerogative, but that’s not you. You’re that girl who listens to the truth. You’re that girl who saw a scared boy instead of a blood rapist. You’re that girl who stands up for all hybrids in need of a voice they’re too scared to find.”
Jealous? I’m not fucking jealous! Okay… maybe a little jealous. Damn you, Grayson.
The sun subsides and concedes to the tinted sky once it turns back on, and I see Brazen’s face appear in my rearview mirror as he returns to the battle at hand. He looks so tragic… and fucking sexy too.
“Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll go back, but I’m not making any promises. I’ll give her a fucking chance, but don’t expect miracles. If you want her, you get her. That’s all there is to it.”
Grayson smiles as relief spreads through him, and Hale gives me a mischievous wink before whispering, “If I want you, I’ll get you. You won’t fight me forever, baby.”
Chills run over my skin, and a forced shiver is suddenly visible. Hale smirks when he sees my obvious reaction to his promise, and I roll my eyes.
“Araya said yes,” Grayson chirps to Brazen while jogging back toward the car.
Brazen’s eyes widen in disbelief, and then he offers a half smile in response as he stares at me.
“I’ll ride back with Araya,” he asserts.
“You can drive my car. I’ll ride with Araya,” Hale mutters in objection.
“Neither of you are riding back with me. I agreed to go, nothing else.”
“You need someone to ride with you because you came to the ends of the earth. It’s safer,” Brazen sizzles free, and his pale eyes beg me to fall under his seductive spell.
“I don’t need anyone protecting me,” I harp. “I’ve been just fine for two fucking weeks.”
“It’s nonnegotiable,” Brazen asserts.
“And I’ll be the one to drive you back,” Hale murmurs while pulling me from the vehicle.
“No. If I have to ride with someone, I’d rather it be Brazen. He’s not trying to get in my fucking pants right now.”
Hale’s eyes narrow at me, and I won’t dare tell him I don’t want him coming because I can’t keep fighting off his attacks.
“Fine,” Hale grumbles, and Brazen gives him a cocky smirk for his small victory.
