I clenched my teeth, deliberately lettingmy gaze darken. “I do not care what you think about me. Now let mego.”
“Why? So you can storm out of the house andget into more trouble? Haven’t you even asked yourself why thatpixie was after you?”
I opened my mouth. I stopped.
Like it or not, that was a seriously goodpoint.
Though I didn’t want to show any sign ofweakness around him, I couldn’t stop myself fromswallowing.
Though momentarily his gaze lookedvictorious, that expression shifted to one of controlled concern.“It was the curse, Chi. I told you this would happen.”
I shook my head, but it was a weak move.“You’re lying. That pixie…” I trailed off.
What? Just saw me walking along the streetand thought I looked like a pretty good target?
I didn’t know how pixies operated, because I didn’t have any idea what a pixie was.
I started to feel overwhelmed. At first,it was slow. Just a cold sensation spreading through my chest. Justa few prickles at the base of my spine, just my heartbeatquickening. Then? It hit me. I had no idea what was goingon.
I started to shake, I felt sweat slickacross my brow, and all at once, I felt just how damaged my handwas.
My mother would be disappointed in me ifshe could see me now. To her, you never showed weakness. You savedface no matter the situation, because face was themost important thing in the world.
Right now, I lost it, as I literally brokedown.
Though a second before my knees had been standing justfine, now they buckled as if I’d aged a hundred years.
I did not, however, fall flat on my face.Instead, showing that same other-wordly speed, Max the fairy pushed in, wrapped a hand around myback, and pinned me there. Sure, it meant I didn’t fall over. Italso meant he was practically embracing me.
Usually, I didn’t go for men likeMax. I didn’t go for those big,burly types. I went for personality. Who cared if a guy could pumpiron – could he actually hold a conversation?
But like I’d already said – from the daydot, I’d always had this type in my mind. This perfect guy. And,like it or not, Max fitted him to a T. And right now? I was pressedflat against that perfect man. His chest pushed up against mine,torn flaps of fabric and scraps of buttons snagging against thesmooth fabric of his gray T-shirt.But hey, what did I care about the fabric of my top, or his, forthat matter? What struck me were the bodies beneath. The curve ofhis chest, the hard angle of his pelvis. All of it. It all slammedinto my mind, pulsed through my veins until I felt my cheeks reddenand my fingertips and lips tingle.
The moment – if this was a moment – didn’tlast. Though I swore Max took the time to stare right into my eyes,he then pressed forward, looped an arm underneath my knees, andpicked me up for the second time in half an hour.
He walked over to the couch andunceremoniously dumped me on it.
Any lingering tingles dancing across my lipsextinguished like sparks thrown into the ocean.
“Hey,” I protested.
“You’re safer on the couch,”he responded as he took a stepback and crossed his arms. Why did he cross his arms so much? Washe trying to keep his heart from bursting out of his chest? Was heworried I’d see right through him if he didn’t take up that defaultdefensive position?
Though a second before I’d been completelydistracted by Max’s perfect, sculpted body, now I scowled. “Youdon’t get to control the conversation by picking me up and throwingme on the couch.”
“Oh, we’re having a conversation now, arewe? How refreshing. Ready to start asking questions rather thanrunning?”
I stiffened. “Yeah, I ran. Because anysane person would run. I have no idea what’s going on. Murderersand monsters and fricking clairvoyants? None of this makessense—”
“I told you this would happen,”his voice dropped again, andthat unmistakable disappointed look flitted through his darkgaze.
Again, it forced me to take a swallow. Ahard one. One that distracted me from my anger long enough for meto realize just how disappointed he looked. And no, though my mind wanted to tell me hisdisappointment was coming from hatred, it seemed to be coming fromsomething far softer.
“You have any idea what would have happenedif that pixie had kidnapped you? Do you have any idea where itwould have taken you?” he asked.
I parted my lips to scream at him oncemore that he could have saved me rather than standing aroundwatching, but I didn’t.
Because I started to feel overcome again. Ifelt sweat slick across my brow, felt the beat of my heart revup.
“I should have seen this coming. Onelook at you and it’sobvious you aren’t willing to accept responsibility.”
“Responsibility?” I stuttered. “Why exactly is this myresponsibility? Why should I be responsible for the sins of myforefathers? I don’t care if one of my great great greatgrandmother’s did something wrong and got cursed. Why exactlyshould it affect me?”
“You’re such a child,” he commented. “You’re not going to argueyour way out of the situation. Saying it isn’t fair isn’t going tochange anything. Only accepting responsibility for the cursewill.”
“Piss off,” I answered, showing just how much of a child Iwas.
He scowled. “You can fight me all youwant, but you cannot disappoint Detective Coulson. He requires yourassistance with this murder, and you will give it to him. For, ifyou don’t, not only will you aggravate the curse and more monsterswill come after you – but you will let a murderer ago. And he willmurder again. How much blood do you want on your hands until youtake this seriously?”
My lips were open, but I couldn’t movethem. I couldn’t speak. Heck, I couldn’t breathe. Becausewhat he’d just saidhad burrowed through my heart.
Blood on my hands. A murderer who wouldkill again….
I was seriously good at dodgingresponsibility. I’d been doing it my entire life.
But there were small responsibilities likenot taking out the trash or handing out little white lies todesperate people for cash. Then there were big responsibilities –like ensuring someone didn’t get murdered.
My head started to
