Chapter 208
Orion moves closer to my chair. “Are you sure about this?” he says Tristan
I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
I look at Orion with pleading eyes, begging him to talk Tristan out of this. To he the voice of reason. To save me from having to make the chore.
But Orion just raises his shoulders in a way that says there’s nothing he can do.
“We both know that once Tristan sets his mind to something, you can’t talk him out of it,” he says quietly
The truth of that statement hits me like a punch. Tristan is stubborn in a way that goes beyond normal stubbornness. When he decides something is right, nothing can change his mind.
Like when he decided to come after me when I was taken. Like how he decided he was going to love me no matter what I was or what I’d done.
Now he’s decided he’s going to die for me. And nothing I say or do is going to stop him.
“I need air,” I say, getting up from my chair. “I need to think.”
I walk out of the room on shaky legs. My whole body feels like it’s vibrating with fear and anger and desperation.
Orion follows me into the hallway. We don’t say anything for a long time. We just stand there listening to the muffled voices from the room we just left.
“He’s really going to do this,” I finally say.
“Yeah. He is.”
“And you’re going to let him.”
Orion sighs. “I don’t have a choice. None of us do.”
I lean against the wall because I don’t trust my legs to keep holding me up. “I’m so tired, Orion. I’m tired of being afraid. I’m tired of hurting people. I’m tired of being the reason everything goes wrong.”
W
“You’re not the reason everything goes wrong.”
‘Yes, I am. Mom and Dad died because of me. Daxon and Seraphine died because of me. And now Tristan’s going to die because of me too.”
“Mom and Dad died protecting you. That’s different. And Daxon and Seraphine died because they were evil and they were trying to hurt people we love.
That’s also different.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.” He moves closer to me. “And Tristan isn’t going to die. You’re going to save him.”
“How can you be so sure?”
*Because I know you. I know how much you love him. I know you’d do anything to save him, including things you didn’t think you could do.*
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Chapter 208
I want to believe him. I want to have his confidence. But all 1 can think about is what happens if I fait.
“What if 1 can’t control it? What if the power takes him and won’t give him back?
“Then we’ll deal with that when it happens. I’ll try to do what I did at the cave. I’m still your Alpha, remember? I let out a high ughter.
“You make it sound so simple.”
It’s not simple. It’s the hardest thing any of us will ever do. But it’s the only thing we can do.”
I close my eyes and try to breathe. The hallway smells like coffee and something else I can’t identify. Fear maybe,
“I don’t want to be alone anymore,” I whisper.
‘You’re not alone. You never have been.
When I open my eyes, he’s looking at me with so much love it makes my chest hurt.
‘We’re all here. We’re all going to help you get through this. No matter what happens, you won’t be alone.”
I nod because I don’t trust my voice not to break.
“Come here,” he says softly.
I start to shake my head. “I can’t. What if I hurt you?”
“You won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do know that. I know you’d never hurt me on purpose, and I know you’re in control right now. You’re scared and upset, but you’re not angry or desperate. The power only comes out when you feel cornered.”
I want to step away from him. Every instinct I have is telling me to put distance between us. But the look on his face stops me.
He looks hurt. Like my pulling away from him is causing him actual physical pain.
W
“Please,” he says quietly. “I miss my sister.”
