Page 48 of Misted

Mist

Why did you give me a sip of water when I was supposed to shrivel and die like an abandoned flower?

Past,

“Why are you always this silent?” I hop in front of Hawk.

I expected him to ignore me, as usual, but his head angles my way, those turquoise blue confused. “Why? Do you hate it?”

“Of course I do!” I throw my shaking hands around. The withdrawal effects are starting. I need my follow up dose soon. To get my Omega reward, I need to finish killing one more target.

Those who don’t meet their quota are forced under extreme withdrawal. I only suffered it once, but since I had that seizure, Hawk makes sure I meet my quota. If I don’t, he kills for me.

We’re out on our fourth outdoor mission, but guards lurk in the shadows, watching our every move. They still don’t trust us even though we killed traitor guards Nero ordered us to execute.

Because of Omega, I remember nothing about the actual execution. All I recall is blood all over my face and hands as Ghost pulled me from between their bodies.

I would say I feel sorry, but I don’t. Those guards might have betrayed Hades, but they also caused the death of one of ours. He died beaten up. His slim, bruised body was thrown in the corner for all of us to see. His ribs were broken and protruded from his bluish skin.

Weaklings have no place in The Pit,was their lesson for us that day.

Hawk strides wordless by my side — as usual. We need to go back to The Pit in less than thirty minutes. Since we no longer stay in the waiting room, this is the only alone time I’ve gotten with him in a long time.

I hop in front of him with my arms flung wide on either side of me. He has to stop or barge into me.

“Hug?” I ask like I always do when I need his warmth. Usually, he wraps his arms around me, but not today.

I scowl. “Do you hate talking to me?”

His voice softens. “I talk to no one but you, Hellion.”

I huff and fold my arms. “And Scar.”

“Both of you are the strongest people I know and have more balls than men. They died, you two stayed.”

I scrunch my nose, not able to feel the compliment. All I think about is that Scar steals away Hawk’s time that’s supposed to be all mine. It’s just training, he said.

My arse!

I’m contemplating killing her and blaming it on Omega. If only there weren’t cameras around.

“If both of us were drowning, who would you save?” I bite my lower lip. I’ve been thinking about this scenario the entire time, but now that I voiced it, I feel so foolish and insecure.

He shrugs. “I doubt any of you needs my help.”

“I do.” I step forward until I’m staring into the bottomless, sparkling ocean in his eyes. “I can’t swim. I’ve never been to a beach.”

“I’ll teach you.”

“That’s not the point. Can’t you see how much I need you?”

He appears taken back for a second. “You do?”

I lean my forehead against his hard chest and breathe in his clean, ocean scent. He’ll always be my ocean. My space of freedom.

“Even though I have an attitude and temper, you always saw me for me, Hawk. Just me.” I stare up at him through my lashes. “Thank you for being my anchor and not letting me drift away.”

“Hug,” he murmurs as his strong hand threads through my hair and his other arm wraps around my midsection, crushing me against him in a furious hug. “I choose you. Even if I’m fucking dying, I’ll choose you over myself, Hellion.”