promise I made to the doctor.
“You did?” Her eyes were wide, locked on my face, and she listened intently when I told her everything. “I wonder . . .” She trailed off and rubbed her shoe against the dry grass.
Alarmed, I turned to her. “You wonder what?” I had a feeling of what her answer would be but had to hear it to be sure.
“I wonder if I should go with them and get it over with.”
“No, Pa--”
She placed her fingers on my lips. “Ayperos is right, Nathan. You can’t fight them all.” She sounded defeated, and it scared the hell out of me. “You just can’t.”
This was unacceptable. I took her shoulders in my hands, feeling every muscle in my body tightened. I may not be able to fight all of them, but I’d be damned if I would sacrifice Paige’s safety because of it.
“Listen to me,” I said, my voice hard with desperation. “I may not be able to fight every single one of them, but if we’re cautious and use our wits, we can find the incantations and end this.” She didn’t look convinced, so I continued. “Paige, please don’t give into them. Instead, believe in us, and know we’ll get through this.”
She laid a hand over my racing heart, and with some hesitation, met my gaze. “I believe in us,” she said, and though I felt relieved to hear her say those four words, the dreadful feeling I had earlier reemerged.
Paige’s pocket vibrated. She pulled out her cell phone and read the message. It was Tree telling her they were getting ready for Carrie’s procedure, and the doctor said it wouldn’t take long to do. Paige texted him back telling him we’d be right there.
“Carrie is going to be upset,” she said as we entered the hospital lobby. “The doctor has to shave a small section of her head to do the procedure, and she’s not going to be happy about it.” She tried to smile but couldn’t and bit her bottom lip instead.
“Paige!” a familiar voice called when we turned down a hall leading to the waiting room.
We stopped and watched Brayden hurry toward us. His face was red and blotchy, worry shadowing it. Paige released my hand and stepped into Brayden’s outstretched arms. I stood there while they hugged, wondering if I should give them a moment to console each other about Carrie’s misfortunate circumstances. I half turned, but then caught Brayden’s eyes looking up from Paige’s shoulder with a gloating expression on his face. I knew then he decided to stick to his previous threat:
“ Paige and I were destined to be together. She may not realize it, or maybe she doesn’t want to admit it to herself, but one day she will, and when she does, she’ll be in my arms instead of yours, ” he had said, adding, “I’m going to do what I can to get her to realize it.”
I had hoped he’d changed his mind in trying to manipulate Paige’s feelings for him to gain her favor but apparently not. His gloves were on, so I mentally reached for mine. Drawing myself up, I squared my shoulders. If Paige wanted to be with him, I’d step aside. However, I wouldn’t allow Brayden to toy with her emotions to get want he wanted. His deplorable behavior disgusted me, using this fragile time to try and benefit from it. His moral compass seemed to me to be cracked beyond repair.
“Where’s your girlfriend Cassie?” I asked, knowing Cassondra wouldn’t dare set foot in this town after I had snapped her neck. Maybe one day she’d have the nerve to face me, but not now, not after what she’d done.
Paige released Brayden and shoved him back. I couldn’t help but smirk at the stunned look on his face. I knew it was juvenile for me to take pleasure in it. But I also knew if I were to tell Paige about Brayden’s devious plan, it would be another added problem to her list of things to worry about. I wouldn’t do that to her and would deal with Brayden’s self-centered, tenacious behavior starting right now.
Chapter Six
Paige
“I can’t believe
“You did?” Her eyes were wide, locked on my face, and she listened intently when I told her everything. “I wonder . . .” She trailed off and rubbed her shoe against the dry grass.
Alarmed, I turned to her. “You wonder what?” I had a feeling of what her answer would be but had to hear it to be sure.
“I wonder if I should go with them and get it over with.”
“No, Pa--”
She placed her fingers on my lips. “Ayperos is right, Nathan. You can’t fight them all.” She sounded defeated, and it scared the hell out of me. “You just can’t.”
This was unacceptable. I took her shoulders in my hands, feeling every muscle in my body tightened. I may not be able to fight all of them, but I’d be damned if I would sacrifice Paige’s safety because of it.
“Listen to me,” I said, my voice hard with desperation. “I may not be able to fight every single one of them, but if we’re cautious and use our wits, we can find the incantations and end this.” She didn’t look convinced, so I continued. “Paige, please don’t give into them. Instead, believe in us, and know we’ll get through this.”
She laid a hand over my racing heart, and with some hesitation, met my gaze. “I believe in us,” she said, and though I felt relieved to hear her say those four words, the dreadful feeling I had earlier reemerged.
Paige’s pocket vibrated. She pulled out her cell phone and read the message. It was Tree telling her they were getting ready for Carrie’s procedure, and the doctor said it wouldn’t take long to do. Paige texted him back telling him we’d be right there.
“Carrie is going to be upset,” she said as we entered the hospital lobby. “The doctor has to shave a small section of her head to do the procedure, and she’s not going to be happy about it.” She tried to smile but couldn’t and bit her bottom lip instead.
“Paige!” a familiar voice called when we turned down a hall leading to the waiting room.
We stopped and watched Brayden hurry toward us. His face was red and blotchy, worry shadowing it. Paige released my hand and stepped into Brayden’s outstretched arms. I stood there while they hugged, wondering if I should give them a moment to console each other about Carrie’s misfortunate circumstances. I half turned, but then caught Brayden’s eyes looking up from Paige’s shoulder with a gloating expression on his face. I knew then he decided to stick to his previous threat:
“ Paige and I were destined to be together. She may not realize it, or maybe she doesn’t want to admit it to herself, but one day she will, and when she does, she’ll be in my arms instead of yours, ” he had said, adding, “I’m going to do what I can to get her to realize it.”
I had hoped he’d changed his mind in trying to manipulate Paige’s feelings for him to gain her favor but apparently not. His gloves were on, so I mentally reached for mine. Drawing myself up, I squared my shoulders. If Paige wanted to be with him, I’d step aside. However, I wouldn’t allow Brayden to toy with her emotions to get want he wanted. His deplorable behavior disgusted me, using this fragile time to try and benefit from it. His moral compass seemed to me to be cracked beyond repair.
“Where’s your girlfriend Cassie?” I asked, knowing Cassondra wouldn’t dare set foot in this town after I had snapped her neck. Maybe one day she’d have the nerve to face me, but not now, not after what she’d done.
Paige released Brayden and shoved him back. I couldn’t help but smirk at the stunned look on his face. I knew it was juvenile for me to take pleasure in it. But I also knew if I were to tell Paige about Brayden’s devious plan, it would be another added problem to her list of things to worry about. I wouldn’t do that to her and would deal with Brayden’s self-centered, tenacious behavior starting right now.
Chapter Six
Paige
“I can’t believe