I cradled my blistered hand and tried to letmy terror wash over me.
Though I was in no state to appreciatethis, this changed everything. Even a scientific skeptic wouldn't be able to deny what I’d just faced. Somekind of fiendish monster had tried to drag me down to Hell. And mynascent ability to see the future had been the only force to saveme.
Though I was kind of okay to walk, Maxwouldn’t let me. As soon as we pulled up in front of the house, hereached around, plucked me out of the passenger seat, and carriedme in.
And, no, I was certainly not the kind ofgirl who preferred to be carried when she could walk. Or at least,on any day but today.
I settled into the reassuring feel of hisarms around me, the subtle beat of his breath across my cheek,the rumpleof his t-shirt against myarms.
Slowly, I started to appreciate the fightwas over.
Or was it just beginning?
Max took me into the lounge room and, hesitating a singlesecond, rested me down on the couch.
He took a step back and crossed his arms. He'd been allsweetness and light up until now, all caring and chivalrous. Butnow? Oh, that changed in a snap. “I warned you,” he said, broguedipping down low like far-off thunder.
Instantly, my hackles rose. “I was just—”I couldn't find my words, couldn't find my voice. It felt like itwas lodged down in my trembling heart.
“Attacked. By a pixie,” he explained.
Though a second ago I'd been determined toscream at him, that little gem derailed me entirely.
I blinked my eyes and shook my head.“What? Pixie? No way. It couldn’t have been a pixie. It soundedlike a hawk, had this chain, was dragging me down toHell—”
Max snorted. Snorted! I'd almost been killed, and this prickthought it was funny?
You’d think being pissed off would be thelast thing my body could manage right now. It was still overcomefrom the fight for survival, my hand still burnt to a crisp. That,however, didn't stop the bile from rising through mythroat.
Max simply raised an eyebrow at this. “It was a pixie. And itwasn't taking you down to Hell.” His accent became thicker on theword Hell.
I opened my mouth. He didn't give me the chance to object.
“It was taking you back to face punishmentfor your family's crimes.” As soon as he mentioned my family's crimes, it happenedagain. I swore his shadow elongated, became more intense, more real somehow.
I found myself swallowing.
“What exactly is it going to take for youto take this situation seriously?” he asked, somehow managing to squeeze his armseven tighter across his chest. I swore if he managed to clutch themany harder, he’d squeeze his head right off, and his indignantfrown would roll all over the carpet.
Though that was a mildly amusing thought, I stifled it. Anysmart girl would. Just as a smart girl would turn, shove off thecouch, and run a mile.
I didn’t exactly have that option. Ishrunk back, the cushions squeaking behind me as I continued tocradle my hand.
God did it hurt. I usually had a prettygood pain threshold, but, hello, I’d burnt my palm and fingers onthe superheated tunnel of a pixie.
In my mind, pixies were tiny littlemischievous creatures, kind of like garden gnomes. But the thingthat had attacked me? I hadn’t gotten a good look at it, but I’dheard it. It had been massive, heavy, and had carriedaround a huge metal chain.
Though my mind kept flitting from thoughtto thought, Max never shifted. Nor did he let up on his grip as heclamped his arms even tighter around his middle. “So, Chi, youtaking this seriously yet?”
I jerked my gaze up to his. “You’re anasshole, you know that, don’t you? Do you have any idea how muchpain I’m in? Do you have any idea what I just went through?” Thoughmy voice cracked on the word idea, Istill managed to push my words out. And it was a goodthing, because this – the anger welling through my gut – it wasthe only thing that could counteract the fear.
“Sure, I know exactly what you wentthrough. I saw most of it,” he revealed.
I… stopped. Kind of froze. It wasn’t thesame immobilizing sensation I’d experienced when I’d heard thepixie dragging its chain towards me through the dark. Nope, thiswas completely different. This was pausing as reality shot you inthe head. “You watched? You stood there and watched? You stoodthere as—” I couldn’t take it anymore. I reached behind me, andeven though all I could grab was a cushion, it didn’t matter. Ichucked it right at Max’s head.
Though I knew full well Max had thereflexes to get out of the way, he didn’t bother. The cushionthumped against his face, tumbled down his crossed arms, and fellagainst his camel-colored leather shoes.
“You total freaking asshole,”I screamed as I reached foranother cushion and chucked it at him.
Again, he didn’t move. He watched me withthe kind of disappointed look that told me I was a complete wasteof space.
I didn’t stop throwing things at him. When Iran out of cushions, I reached towards the coffee table. I clutchedat the remote and threw it right at that sanctimonious frown.
This time, hereached up, and with lightning skills, caught it.
That didn’t mean I stopped.
“You total bastard,” I shrieked, finally jumping to my feet.“Now get the hell out of my house.” I pointed towards thedoor.
He didn’t move. He just watched me. Somehow, when he wanted to, he could make hiseyes glitter. Now I swore they glinted like light running along afreshly forged blade.
I kept my arm held out, one long, stiff,bloodless finger pointed at the door. “I said get out,” Ishrieked.
“I’m not going anywhere, Chi. Neither areyou,” he said as he tooka step to the side, positioning himself roughly in the middle ofthe lounge room, giving himself all the time he would need toobstruct either door.
I stiffened again. A burst of adrenalinerushed through me. Except, it was completely different to the fearthat had seen me save myself from that pixie.
