35. Jenson
Jenson
T his time, I rest of my hand in the small of Briar’s back as I steer her around the edges of the Mystic crowd. Even through the shimmering fabric she wears, I can feel her heat soaking into my palm.
It’s surprisingly comforting.
Dove pops up in front of us. Her eyes move between Briar and I. “Boo, Briar. You chose Jenny over me?”
Mentally, I pray for patience. “We’re just talking, Dove.”
How the hell do they even know each other?
Beside me, Briar smiles. “I’ll be back if I can. We’ll try the I don’t know this time.”
No, she fucking won’t.
Dove beams. “Excellent! I have a new recipe you’re gonna love.”
And then she turns to me, her smile slowly vanishing as she raises a terrifying finger to point at me. “The eyes are watching you, Jenny Rogers.”
She vanishes into the crowd before I can ask who the fuck Jenny Rogers is, and I give Briar an incredulous look. “How do you know Dove?”
We start moving through the crowd again. Her laughter is quiet next to me. “I met her the first time I came. She invited me out with her. She’s – nice. Sad, though.”
Dove, sad? “You have a knack for cutting through shields, Briar Rose.”
“You make it sound like some sort of superpower.”
Me. Kai. River. Now Dove. The way that Briar sees people, understands them, reads them so easily, feels like a gift. She wears her emotions on her sleeve, completely open. Vulnerable.
And I hurt her. My lips press together. “Briar—,”
I see the hands first. They reach for me, tipped with long, scarlet talons, aiming directly for my face. I don’t have chance to move before they wrap around my neck, sharp edges digging into the skin as my head is yanked down.
Wet lips slam against mine, a tongue shoved into my mouth.
I freeze in place.
I don’t do anything. Can’t do anything. I can’t fucking move. Terror roots my feet to the floor.
There . The voice purrs, high and throat and full of venom. I know what you need.
My body breaks into a cold sweat, beginning to tremble.
Hands over my skin. Touching, everywhere.
And then they’re gone. The silence bursts into a kaleidoscope of noise that returns in a rush as I stagger back, frantically wiping at my face. My neck. My mouth.
But it doesn’t stop the memories. The voice.
Look at you. Your body doesn’t lie, Jenson.
A horrific, high-pitched sound comes from my throat as I shake my head in desperation.
She’s dead. Gone. Under the fucking ground. In hell, where she belongs.
My breathing locks up inside my chest as I focus. Mallory is screaming, her face contorted as Briar pulls her away from me. By her hair. Briar has her s mall hands wrapped around Mal’s blond hair with surprising strength as she rips her away before she pushes her back and gets in between us, her back to me.
Protecting me.
And Mallory is screaming, clutching her scalp. “Who the fuck are you? Fucking psychopath – you ripped out my hair!”
Breathe. Fucking breathe.
It feels like I’m underwater. Everything has slowed down.
Briar shakes off her hand, pale strands falling to the floor. It’s not a small amount. “You assaulted him—,”
“I kissed him!” Mal cranes her neck, staring at me. “Tell this bitch, Jenson. We have a relationship!”
Briar stiffens. “He didn’t ask for it. Didn’t want it. That’s assault.”
Mal scrambles to her feet, raising her hand. It jerks me out of my panic, my head clearing as she pulls it back to deliver a slap. “Don’t think you’re any better than I am. You fucking sl—,”
The hand that wraps around her wrist isn’t gentle, and she cries out. “I strongly suggest you don’t finish that sentence, Mallory. We just seem to keep having the same conversation, don’t we?”
River’s eyes are nearly black as he looks down at her, and then to Briar. His face gentles. “You okay, warrior? Heard you’re fighting all the battles tonight.”
“She—,”
“I know.” His eyes glance to me, assessing before he turns back. “Mallory was warned before about what would happen if she tried this again. Weren’t you, Mal?”
Mal stares at me with disbelief. “I thought if – if I just did it, if you at least tried —,”
If she just dragged up the worst memories of my life and forced herself on me, that I would want her. That it would be fine. That I’d just get over it .
My voice sounds raw, almost ragged. “ No .”
I don’t have the capacity for anything else. Briar takes a step back, until she’s almost against my chest, the way she was at Ravenhall. She’s careful to keep her hands out in front of her. And she turns her head, her voice quiet enough that only I can hear it. “She’s not going to touch you again.”
Her words ease the tightness behind my ribs, and I shift forward. She leans back against me as if she’s fitted there all our lives, a perfectly matching puzzle piece.
Mal’s eyes widen. “So you can touch. You lied to me.”
“I don’t owe you anything.” The words feel like razor blades. “I gave you an honest explanation years ago, and I am tired of telling you no, Mal. It ends now.”
River’s mouth tightens. “You’re finished here. Out. Now. You won’t be coming back.”
A permanent ban. She spends every night here, looking for something she never seems to find. Pity tightens my chest at the panic that crosses her face. “Wait. You can’t ban me.”
But I’m done. River keeps hold of her wrist as he pulls her away. “You good? Both of you?”
I nod. Briar does the same. “We’ll be upstairs.”
Understanding dawns on his face. “I’ll handle things here.”
He always does. Even when I’m not sure I deserve it. “Thanks, River.”