Groaning, I covered my face in shame. Granted, my father had done some pretty unspeakable things, but he was still my father, and I didn’t want to leave this world with so much left unsaid between us.
Kicking off the blankets, I got out of bed. “I have to see them.” I adjusted my shirt, then spun around to face Trent.
He was out of bed and stood in front of me with his arms crossed. Frustration bubbled up at how quickly he moved, and at how unfazed he seemed to be about this whole situation.
I squared my shoulders and met his gaze. “Take me home. Now.”
“No.” His tone was clipped.
“Yes.”
“No.” He scowled.
This childish argument wasn’t getting me anywhere. I sighed with aggravation. “You can’t keep me here.” I crossed my arms, mimicking his stance.
“Wanna bet?” The iciness of his voice sent a chill through me. “Be mad at me if you want, but I will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe.”
He stepped closer, putting him toe to toe with me. In that split second, I saw it. The way his eyes narrowed and darkened. The way his body stiffened. The way his muscles twitched with anticipation. The way he clenched his jaw as if fighting against a primal urge. This was him on the edge of full-blown bloodlust.
“Trent, please.” My voice wavered. “You don’t understand. I never got to say goodbye to my mom. One minute, she was there, and we were laughing and talking, and the next minute she was in a coma.” Tears streamed down my face. “I can’t do that again. I can’t put my family through that.”
He blew out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, but I can’t put you in danger.” Trent pulled me to him, cradling my head against his chest. “I love you,” he whispered.
I knew he loved me, but there was no way he could understand how I felt or the depth of desperation coursing through my veins for the need to talk to my family.
“If I can’t see them, then I need to call them.” I backed away from his embrace and glanced around the room for my cell phone. It sat on the nightstand.
“That’s not a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Jax said the coven has been in Keene Valley. We have no idea what they’ve done. If you contact your family, you risk putting them in danger. Is that what you want?”
“Of course not,” I snapped, pacing away. That was the very last thing I wanted. “What if I send them an email? Or a letter?”
Trent’s expression was firm, but his eyes were full of compassion. “I’m sorry, Chloe.”
“Then you go talk to them. Or send Jax. You guys can give them a message from me.”
He shook his head.
I let out a frustrated scream. He was being unreasonable. We both knew why the coven wanted me, and sooner or later, they were going to find me. There was no denying that. But what could they do to me?
They weren’t going to kill me—I was too valuable to them. If anything, I had all the power. Still, knowing the coven was coming for me was all the more reason to go see my family. Who knew when I’d get another chance?
Well, if Trent wasn’t going to take me home to see my family, I’d find a way to go without him, because there was no way he was going to stop me from doing this. Maybe Jax would help me. Or Whitney.
“Fine,” I said, praying he believed I was giving up and letting him win. “But I’m not going to be unprepared again.”
He tilted his head, eyes narrowed, studying me. “What?” he said cautiously.
“I need a notebook and a pen.” I went to the closet, to where I’d shoved my backpack, and retrieved the items. Then I sat on the bed cross-legged.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Writing a living will.” I wrote the words “Living Will” across the top of the page, followed by my name. “Next time I almost die, I’ll have a plan in place.”
“A plan?” Trent sounded more confused than I’d ever heard him.
I nodded. “Yes, a plan. You know. A do-not-resuscitate order. Instructions to not let me live hooked up to machines. That sort of thing.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I?” I glanced up at him.
He was standing right next to the bed, eyes dark as a storm.
“I’m going to die eventually. We both know it. So, why not be prepared? I mean, isn’t that sort of what you’re doing, too? Deciding if you want to stick around if I choose to remain human?”
With a snarl, Trent yanked the notebook out of my hand and flung it across the room. “It’s bad enough I’m going to have to face an eternity without you, but I will not plan for that day. Do you understand?” He kneeled on the bed, his face inches from mine. “And I’m not deciding if I want to stick around. I’m here, Chloe, and I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
My breaths came hard and fast, my chest heaving with each exhale. As terrifying—and dangerous as it was—he was a million times sexier when he was in bloodlust. I stared into his dark, tortured eyes. Until just then, I hadn’t realized how badly I needed to hear him say that, to know he wasn’t going to leave me.
“Promise?” I whispered.
He sat beside me and then pulled me onto this lap. Sweeping my hair back, he gently clutched my face and held my gaze. “Promise. It’s you and me. Forever.”
My breath hitched. Forever. Not eternity. I closed my eyes and rested my forehead to his. Forever didn’t seem long enough.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE:
Happy Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
Happy
