Chapter 48
Ryder
“Goodnight.”
I’m back in my room before she has a chance to say anything. How am I supposed to face her after what happened? I knew how she made me feel and what being around her was like, but this was different. We’ve never been that physically close before and it’s like every cell in my body knew it.
Why did she have to feel so good against me?
And her heat. Was she losing control just as much as I was?
For a moment, I thought I might burst into flames next to her and I was completely okay with it.
In fact, I welcomed it. Combustion would’ve at least kept me from losing control of my power.
I certainly would’ve preferred that over what happened.
She must’ve realized that it was because of her. Because of the way she—
No. No, I have to stop thinking about it.
The icy droplets of water now pelting my skin do little to cool me off. It’s like I can still feel every inch of her pressed up against me. Teasing me. Daring me to make a move.
I hear a faint knock at my door but ignore it. Artemus can wait until morning for an update. Now is definitely not the time. A second later, there’s another knock, but this one is harder and more demanding.
This better be important.
I reluctantly shut off the water and throw on a pair of loose pants, deciding that’ll have to be decent enough for this inconvenient visit. My hand is still on the doorknob when I’m shoved out of the way by force.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I warn when she turns around.
“What happened earlier?” Reign makes her way to one of the columns that marks the corner of my bed and leans her back against it, waiting for my answer.
“Which part exactly?” If we’re going to talk about this, then she needs to be just as uncomfortable as I am.
“The part where you decimated a chunk of forest.”
“You knew what my power could do,” I offer simply.
“I didn’t know it could do THAT.”
I shrug. “Well, now you know.”
She pushes off the bed post. “You told me that my death made you take down an entire mountain. I thought you were exaggerating.”
“Is there a question in there?”
“Why would you do that? Why would my death make you lose control that much?”
She knows what she’s doing. Just as much as she already knows the answer.
“I told you I didn’t want you to die.” I retreat a small step, making sure to keep a safe distance between us.
She shakes her head in frustration. “No! People die every day. You just lost Roman and so many of your people and yet you never lost control. Not once.”
“Okay…?” If she wants this, she’s going to have to pull it out of me.
“So, I’ll ask again. Why did my death affect you so much?” There’s a look of determination written all over her face.
“Perhaps I was overcome with guilt that I let my father get a second chance with you.”
“That wasn’t it and you know it!” Her frustration quickly grows to anger as she backs me into a corner. “Why can’t you just say it?”
“Say what?”
“You know what!”
“Why, Reign? Why is it that you need me to say it?” She spins on her heel and storms off across the room. Her hands work through her hair like she’s trying to stop herself. “Tell me, Reign.”
“Because!” She whips around, her hair following her movements. “Because if I’m going to walk away from everything good I have with Damien then I need to hear you say it!”
Everything stills. Everything but my racing heartbeat. She looks utterly defeated like she has nothing more to give. I force her against the wall, pinning her waist with my hands so that she can’t storm off again.
She looks scared, but not of me. It’s like she’s scared of herself.
“If I say it, there’s no going back.”
“I know.”
“Are you sure you want that?”
“I don’t know what I want. All I do know is what I need. And I need to hear you say it.”