Chapter 58 – Carina
Fifty-Eight
CARINA
Harlow never warned me.
The Darkness—it speaks to me. Harasses me. Makes me crave things I don’t actually desire. Murder, for one.
You’re mine, it continues to recite, bouncing in the crevices of my mind until I’m positive it’ll actually drive me to insanity.
Go. Away. I press my hands to my temples, earning a glance from Holly, who’s walking beside me from where I’m seated on Ryder’s back. I can’t look at her. Not her, not Xander, especially not Ryder, and most certainly not the deceased face of Conan.
Conan, who I killed.
Conan, who came to help save me and earned a knife in the heart instead.
The pack continues to lose people because of me. Alaric, Conan. I’ll be fucking damned if Ryder is next. Or Leah or Claire or Xander or anyone else in that camp. They’ll be safe from witches if it’s the last fucking thing I do.
You’re strong now. Stronger than anyone else in Highridge. There’s a way to become even more powerful.
Stop.
I’ll never leave you. End the remaining shifters. Become stronger. Become more.
Fuck off, fuck off, fuck off! I squeeze my eyes shut. If I can’t see, if I can pretend to be asleep, the Darkness will go away.
You know what you must do.
I rub my face. I’ll never submit.
Submit? There is no submission. You are I and I are you. We’re the same. You desire what I do.
No.
I will control this.
I will.
Somehow…before I hurt anyone else.