“It’s so lonely.”
Son of a bitch.
Now, Muscle Guy was glaring at me like I was the worst human on the planet. Fucking fantastic. How was it possible for me to feel guilty when there wasno real baby?
“You should be ashamed.” Muscle Guy said, and nodded at Ezra in some kind of bro code. “You should be at home helping him. Not many dudes would be willing to stick around like that.”
He clapped Ezra on the shoulder, prompting more sniffling, and with a final shake of his head atme, he left. Alone and almost sober at this point, I was at a loss for what todo. Unfortunately, Ezra wasn’t. Hand gripped tight around my wrist, he dragged me halfway across the yard before I snapped out of it and dug my feet in.
My nails scratched his skin as I tried and failed to get him to let go. Wet grass, covered in spots of ice, made my resistance slippery and weak. Oh God, he was beyond pissed. I could almost feel it, like spice in the back of my throat. My chest pulsed with heat, my skin stung as I rubbed it raw with my struggles, and through it all, my boots crunched over the icy footprints Ezra left behind.
Did he know his magick was leaking?
“Um…”
“Not a word,” he snapped. “Not one godsdamned word, Rani.”
“But I have so many special ones to share with you.” I yanked to try and break his hold, only succeeding in hurting my shoulder.
My yelp brought Ezra to an immediate stop, and he spun into me until there was hardly any space between us. His tucked chin created shadows across his face as he met my surprised gaze head-on. The hold on my wrist was light, but still there, so he used his other hand to tenderly press on my shoulder.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he apologized, voice threaded with worry.
It didn’t really anymore.
“I’m fine,” I whispered.
We were a few houses down from the one hosting the party. Music and laughter spilled onto the street, but not loud enough to keep this conversation from happening. Ezra looked down as his fingers released my wrist, one by one. His hand hovered nearby, like he found it difficult not to be touching me. Or, he wanted to be close enough to grab me again if he needed to.
“Do you know what I thought when the protection barrier went off and I couldn’t find you?” he asked. “Do you have any idea how terrified I was?”
I didn’t need to see the crease in his brow or the pain in his eyes to know he was sincere. Ifeltit in his words. Something stretched between us, winding through the tension until it hooked its way into my heart andpulled. Ezra grunted at the same time I did.
“What the hell was that?” I groaned, rubbing my chest.
For the first time, he avoided my gaze. Fuck. Was thatme? Had my magick escaped and hurt him somehow? Before I could apologize, he cleared his throat and set his jaw. He waited until he caught my eye once more, and not even another zing in my chest could make me look away this time.
“This shit is ending now,” he swore, and just like that, my anger was back.
“What exactly do you think is ending?” I was proud of how steady I sounded. Despite the violent thoughts multiplying behind my deceptively calm exterior.
“This!” he snarled and waved a hand toward the party. “I know what you were trying to do tonight, and while I understand, it’s got to stop.”
I shook my head and stepped back. He couldn’t know. Guilt and shame fought to smother me under his perceptive scowl. It was almost as bad as him witnessing my panic attack. If he knew how weak I really was, I couldn’t bury it and pretend it wasn't true. He was forcing it into the light, and I wasn’t ready to deal with that yet. Rage surged forward so fast I could do nothing but fall into it.
It burned away the hurt and the fear, protecting me like it always did.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I growled. “I just wanted to get out of the house and have a little fun. Whichyouinterrupted.”
He rolled his eyes. Actually rolled them.
“There was no way you were going to havefunwith that walking meat stick back there. He’s not your type.”
I forced a laugh. It was that or scream. “And you thinkyouknow my type?”
His smug smile set me off. I swung before I even realized I’d made a fist. Ezra easily
blocked me, catching my hand like it was nothing more than a petty slap. This time, he didn’t let go.
