by S. D. Grimm
His body shuddered, and he breathed in. His chest heaved as he looked at me, like he wanted to say something. Anything. But wasn’t sure what to say. Wasn’t sure what to feel. Or how I would feel.
He didn’t need to say anything. And he deserved to know how I felt. I wrapped him in a tight hug.
Only a slight hesitation delayed his return embrace. Then it was so strong. Like he needed it as much as I did. Maybe more.
“Ava, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know—”
“Hey, you don’t have to apologize.” I looked into his eyes, and he winced away from my gaze.
I knew this Wyatt. I remembered this Wyatt.
“Please don’t shut me out.” I touched his cheek.
Slowly he turned his attention to me. “I think it’s time. I-I think you should kill me.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Ava
“What?” I backed up from Wyatt, but he’d pulled out a knife and handed it to me, hilt first.
I started at the bloody handle, and my heart jumped into my throat. “No!”
“Wyatt! No!” Kelsey’s scream echoed my own.
“Ava, I killed people. I hurt people. You.” His voice trembled. Tears coated his eyes. “I’ve never hurt you on purpose before. And I—”
“No.” I pushed the knife away. “Wyatt, don’t ask me to do this,” I whispered through the tightening in my voice.
Cade approached us. “Wyatt, Ava’s right. That wasn’t you.”
He let out a frustrated noise that sounded like a very angry laugh. “That’s what you guys don’t understand. It was me. That is me.” He glanced at Nick as if he were a lifeline. “Nick gets it. He’s the only one willing to do the right thing.”
“Wyatt?” Kelsey raced over to him, but he backed away from her. “You didn’t kill those people. Gwen told me she had her monsters do it. She said you wouldn’t hurt anyone. You—”
“I bit Ava’s neck! I could have killed Cade.”
“Wyatt.” Nick’s voice made me turn and my heart thrummed. Heat spiked through my blood. I would not let him hurt Wyatt.
He clenched his jaw. Then he looked at Wyatt. “You hurt Ava tonight.”
Wyatt closed his eyes and sank to the ground, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. The knife he’d tried to give me clattered to the floor between his boots. “I know. And I don’t want to be that monster again.”
I sat beside him, moving the knife away from his reach. “You won’t be.”
But I wasn’t the only one to say it. Nick’s voice clearly rang out with mine. I looked up at my brother. He’d picked up the knife and crouched next to Wyatt.
“Nick!” Kelsey touched his shoulder. He looked up at her, that soft look in his eyes that I’d seen when he spoke to me as a little girl. Then he slowly placed the knife in his belt and turned his attention back to Wyatt. “Because we’re going to make sure she doesn’t get ahold of you again. All of us.”
“You mean…” Kelsey stared at Nick.
My brother nodded. Looked right at me. “I wasn’t right. Ava was. This whole time, you were, Ava. I’m sorry I didn’t listen.” He turned to Wyatt. “You hurt Ava, but it was a surface wound. Even under her control, even with the potion, you reined it in. You fought it.”
Wyatt frowned, but slowly his head lifted and he looked at my brother.
“You’re not a monster.”
Wyatt crushed his eyes closed. I slid my hand across his shoulders and pulled him into me. Then I looked at Nick and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“Does this mean we get to use that interrogation vault once a month as a guest room?” Cade asked.
Nick chuckled slightly.
Wyatt’s shoulders shook and he actually smiled. “I’m not using your stupid interrogation room.”
Everyone joined in the laughter, letting the tension crumble.
Kelsey sat on Wyatt’s other side. “You might want to consider. Gwen sort of trashed the cabin.” She bumped her shoulder against his.
“Come on.” I grabbed his hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
…
I crawled out onto the roof of my brothers’ house. My foster parents were so glad I’d found friends I wanted to hang out with all the time. Jean had touched my face so lovingly and told me she was happy to see the light in my eyes. Then she and Dave told me they wanted to adopt me.
I’d cried some of the happiest tears in my life—well, this cycle anyway.
Deciding to stop pushing them away was a work in progress, but I’d started.
And I still had everyone I loved.
A shuffling against the roof tiles made me turn, expecting to see Cade up here again, staring up at the stars with me and popping Combos like they were candy. But it was Wyatt.
Considering I hadn’t seen him much the last few days—he’d missed school, which I totally understood—I wanted to run to him and throw my arms around him. Instead, I smiled and waited for him to approach. I remembered enough to know that letting Wyatt come around after something like this was better than pushing him too fast.
He stood beside me. “This seat taken? Or would you rather be alone?”
I patted the shingles. “Haven’t seen you around. Kelsey is here every night.”
“She’s trying to figure out how to help you all defeat Gwen when she comes back.” He didn’t look at me while he spoke, still ashamed, it seemed, of everything he’d done while under Gwen’s influence.
I sighed and motioned up at the sky. “Stars are out.”
He nodded.
I scooted a little closer to him, smiling at the way he gave me a slightly surprised look. I pointed at the sky. “Andromeda is bright this evening.”
“She’s always bright.”
I glanced over at him and his soft eyes. Intense eyes. He wasn’t looking at the stars, though. He seemed captivated by me.
Heat hit my cheeks and I smiled. “You know that constellation there.” I drew his attention to the sky. “Perseus. He’s a hero. Rescuer of those in distress. Mighty warrior.”
His gaze traced my face. “Yeah?”
I nodded, still looking at the stars, but aware of his attention on me. “Against all odds, he faced his demons and won.”
“Ava—”
I looked right at Wyatt and he closed his eyes. Bowed his head. I touched his hand. “He had help from his friends.”
He faced me. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? Wyatt, you don’t have to say you’re sorry. You—”
“For asking you to… I never should have. I didn’t think it through. I was trying to protect people I love. And, I didn’t want to hurt you again.”
“You remember what you do when you’re…well, you know?”
“Yes. What I do. Who I am. Who I was under her spell. The feeling of helplessness. All of it. I don’t know anything while it’s happening, but I remember later. It comes back slowly.”
I looked into his eyes. “I’m sorry you have to remember that.” I gripped his hand tightly. “But I need you to know something.”
He stared back at me, seemingly afraid to ask the question and curious all at once.
“I won’t stop until you’re free.”
“Free?” He said the word so quietly.
“Yes. From this prison you have to enter once a month.”
“Why would you—”
“Because I love you, Wyatt.”
“You do?”
I squeezed his hand. “You’re worth fighting for.”
His chest rose and he started to turn away from me. I pulled him back to face me and looked deep into his eyes. “I chose to save you out of love, and nothing is going to break that. Not now. Not ever.”
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Acknowledgments
It takes a village to write a book. This is something I learned this year at
a writers’ conference. I had always felt so ashamed that I secretly *needed* people to help me with this career that I’d always pictured a solo mission. It’s not. I need support, feedback, hugs, people to fangirl with me and people who believe in me. And I am truly blessed. I get to do what I love because of you.
So when I say “thank you,” please know that it is from the bottom of my heart. From the most sincere place in my soul. I want to write until the day I die. Those of you who make that possible, thank you.
First and foremost, I thank my Savior, who gave me the desire and passion for this career. And then he put this amazing “village” of people who love me right out my front door.
I thank my husband, who puts up with my deadlines and excited ramblings about the “next story” and creativity that is so different than his own.
I thank my kids for their fresh perspective, encouragement, and enthusiasm. You mean the world to me.
My family, Mom, Dad, and Molly, I couldn’t do this without your constant support. I mean that. HUGS!
My in-laws, Dale and Linda, bless your hearts for taking care of my kids when the deadlines are tight and for displaying my books proudly on your shelves.
And my friends. I said I was blessed, and I am. I have so many writer and non-writer friends who provide an amazing support group. You guys read my rough drafts, remind me that I can do this, and sometimes, when I need it, you make unicorn poop cookies with me, remind me with a hearty “form Voltron!” that I’m not alone, and even cry with me. And when I celebrate highs, you are the first to squee over my newest covers, gush over my favorite characters, and remind me that you told me so.
To you, my wonderful readers, THANK YOU! These books are for you.
And a special thank you to my editor, Tera, who loves my voice and my agent, Julie, who believes in my stories.
To all of you who believed in me thus far, your encouragement is treasured. Thank you.
About the Author
S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction. She’s represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency and author of Scarlet Moon. When she’s not writing or editing, Sarah enjoys reading (of course!), practicing kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu, training dogs, and binge-watching shows with great characters. Her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-size dog. You can learn more about her upcoming novels at www.sdgrimm.com.
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