Page 41 of Mending Mayhem
Ash joined her in the middle of the room. “Chaos?”
“Apparently, he blames Shade and Miles for Ember’s rejection.” He turned his head to me, baring his teeth. “Extinguish and relax.”
“Mayhem!” Ember fisted her hands on her hips. “Stop it.”
At her command, I drew my hellfire inward, my talons following the flames. Chaos loosened the pressure on my chest, but he did not release me.
Ash touched Miles on the shoulder. “It’s okay. He’ll listen to her.”
The men relaxed their defensive stances, though their bodies remained tense, and Chaos removed his arm to rest a single hand against my chest.
“Take a breath with me.” Ember inhaled, her chest expanding before retracting with her exhale. “Do it.” She breathed again, and I followed her command. Once. Twice. Three times we breathed together.
The fury in my chest simmered with her presence, her voice soothing me, calming my racing thoughts until I could think clearly. With clarity came the pain of her rejection, and the knife of agony plunged into my chest once more.
She held my gaze as she strode toward me, lifting a hand at Chaos, silently asking him to release me. He backed two steps away, and she rested her palm on my shoulder. Her touch was gentle, but the weight of it nearly crushed me.
“Take a walk with me.” She glided her fingers down my arm to clutch my hand. “Come on,” she said when I didn’t move, and she tugged, taking a step away.
I could do nothing but follow.
She remained silent as we descended the stairs, not turning to look at me until the late afternoon sun illuminated her purple hair, making it shine like silk. We passed her damaged van and turned right on the sidewalk.
“Where are we going?” I asked, unable to bear her silence any longer.
“Nowhere in particular. Walking helps me gather my thoughts.” She released my hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. “What was going on in there? Because it looked like a jealous rage, and that is no bueno.”
“Your perceptiveness astonishes me.” I fought the urge to reach for her hand again and shoved mine into my pockets instead.
“It wasn’t hard to figure out.” When I didn’t respond, she nodded, pressing her lips into a hard line. “So you thought I was involved with Miles and Shade?”
“If I was certain which one had bewitched you, he would be dead already.”
“Okay, see?” She stopped and laid her hand on my shoulder, turning me to face her. “That kind of behavior isn’t okay. Just because you think someone hurt me or has me under a spell, it doesn’t mean you can kill them.”
“I would raze the entire world before I would allow anyone to harm you.” I grasped her hands, pulling them to my chest. “I would do anything for you.”
She swallowed hard, her mouth opening but then closing again.
“Why did you reject me?” I released her hands, returning mine to my pockets so I wouldn’t wrap my arms around her and carry her away.
“I didn’t reject you. I…” She lowered her gaze.
“You said we could never be together again.” I dipped my head, attempting to catch her gaze.
She inhaled deeply and continued walking. “This is hard for me. Words and emotions aren’t my thing.”
“Nor were they mine until I met you.” I walked beside her, matching her strides. “Did something happen in your past?”
“No.” She shook her head, drawing her shoulders upward. “It would be so much easier if I could blame it on some traumatic event, but I can’t. It’s just how I’m wired. I had the same upbringing as my sisters; there’s just something different about me. Something wrong.”
“There is nothing wrong with you.” I grasped her arm, turning her toward me, but she refused to meet my eyes. “Look at me.”
It took her a moment, but she finally met my gaze, her deep brown eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Words will forever elude me, but the way I feel about you is undeniable. You, Ember Holland, are the reason for my existence.”
She laughed and blinked back her tears. “Words don’t elude you. The only problem you have is your hot temper. I don’t want you killing anyone over me. Understood?”