His smile fades as quickly as it appears. “We can’t make this mistake again. We never should have gotten so close in the first place. They exploited it before, and they will again. Even now, you’re here for a reason. Don’t forget that.”
“Maybe, but it’s going to keep happening so we might as well accept it and learn how to disguise it.”
“Your slap was pretty convincing. Both of them.”
I reach over and brush his damaged cheek with a frown. “Was this from me?”
The corner of his mouth lifts in a smirk. “No. Sorry to disappoint you, but it didn’t hurt as much as you wanted it to.”
“I’m glad for that, at least. I’m sorry, Daniel. I was upset and scared and I really believed them for a moment.”
He takes my hand and brushes my fingers with a kiss. “I know. I don’t blame you.”
I stare at him, wanting nothing more than to kiss him back. Deep and saturated until I feel him in every recess of my being. In fact, I want everything about him, mind, body, and soul, but he’s right. That’s a course we can’t take.
“You’re finally getting it.”
I sigh. My fingers feel so cold when he releases them. “So what do we do?”
He rests against the wall again, squinting in thought. “I want to try something. When you go back to Clausen, tell him that I want to make a deal. Then at least it’s up to me and removes the attention from you again.”
My eyes narrow in suspicion. “The last time you made a deal, I ended up losing my memories and turning into a violent nutcase.”
His lips twist briefly. “You really hated me, didn’t you.” He lets out a breath. “I didn’t think you had it in you to hit someone. Or stab them.”
“I wouldn’t have thought so either. I’m still horrified. Maybe the same magnetic quality that draws us together has the power to repel just as strongly.”
His eyes darken and shift toward the door.
“They’re coming for me,” I guess.
He nods, and our gazes collide in a silent plea. I force myself to back away, a thousand words passing between us asthe footsteps become scrapes of a lock. When the guards move inside, I do my best to plaster an angry mask on my face.
“It’s about time,” I mumble, pushing to my feet.
“Clausen is waiting for you,” one of the guards says.
“Good. I have news for him.”
I give Clausen his message, and he seems pleased but not surprised. Maybe that’s the right reaction, maybe not. I’m not sure how to judge these things anymore. I have a role in the game, but I have to play it blindly, trusting Daniel knows the rules better than I do. For now, I’m supposed to hate him. Seems simple enough, and over the next couple of days, I even rehearse potential scenes in my head.
I think I’m prepared for our battle until his appearance at group a week later. My stomach constricts, my pulse racing as he moves into the room with familiar indifference and drops to his chair. While it takes everything I have to keep my cool, he seems to manage indifferent without a second thought. He’s so convincing, I start to wonder if I imagined our reunion in his closet cell.
“Ah, Daniel. We’re glad you could make it today,” Clausen says. “How are you finding your new accommodations?”
“Wonderful,” he mutters.
“Great. Everyone, you remember Daniel. It’s been a few weeks since he’s graced us with his presence.”
Glare. You’re angry. You’re supposed to be mad he’s here. I think I do an admirable job with my angry glare.
“What’s the matter, Rebecca? You look upset,” Clausen observes, right on cue.
“I’m fine, thanks,” I say stiffly, crossing my arms.
“Glad to hear it.” He brings the class to attention and settles into his chair. “Today we’ll continue our discussion on boundaries. Why we construct them, how they impact us, and what role your gifts play. Sara, you had an interesting point about that yesterday.”
My friend shifts uncomfortably at the attention. “Yeah. I mean… I guess I just think setting boundaries is more complicated for us than other people. It’s hard, especially if we don’t have full control over our abilities. How can we be responsible for crossing a line with something we can’t control?”
