Page 33 of Poet & Protector

Were their laws harsh? Yes. Did Guardians wish some of those laws were different? Absolutely.

All in all, the Nightshades seemed content to leave it at that. They likely didn’t view their mistress Lumine as anything more than a strict ruler.

But Efron was the worst kind of evil and Banes were hardly content.

Mason took a step toward me. I watched confusion and concern fill his eyes.

Stop. I don’t need or want your sympathy, Nightshade.

That was what I needed to do: remind myself who he was. The enemy. I stared at the ground because I could no longer look at him.

Mason took my forearm in a gentle clasp. I dared to glance up at him then down to where his fingers circled my arm.

“Tell me what’s happening right now.” He spoke quietly. “I want to know.”

“You might regret saying that.” I pulled away with a soft growl.

“This isn’t about me…It’s about Sabine, isn’t it?” He was watching me too closely. “Talk to me, Nev. Please.”

“Let it go, Mason!” I grabbed his upper arms and spun him around, slamming him up against the garden wall. “Why can’t you just leave it alone? Leave. Me. Alone.”

Our faces were inches apart. Our lips curled, fangs bared, both snarling as the shadows of our wolves slid along our bodies.

The midday sun was at my back. It shone on Mason’s furious face, and a smattering of gold flecks in his hazel-blue irises gleamed. The sight was so unique, so dazzling, that for a moment I forgot I was angry. All I could do was stare into his eyes. Then, inexplicably, my gaze traveled to his mouth. Those perfect blushing rosebud lips were currently twisted with confusion and outrage.

I leaned closer to Mason. His scent surrounded me; his breath spilled between us and I could almost taste him. This was what I’d envisioned myself doing. Holding him against the wall, standing this close to him. But we weren’t fighting. We were…

It would be so easy. One step forward.

What would he do if my lips touched his when we were both trapped in this haze of rage?

Fury and passion were twins. One volatile emotion could easily blend into the other.

Would he fight me? Kiss me back?

No. I wasn’t doing this dance again today. Once had been more than enough. It shook me to the core that I’d almost been recaptured by temptation so easily.

Mason stopped growling. His brow furrowed as he sensed the change in my emotions. His eyes searched my face, finding too much even though I was trying so hard to give nothing away.

I let go of him and stepped back, shaking my head.

He drew a long unsteady breath, likely waiting for adrenaline to release him. We’d both been ready to tear into each other and I’d been on the verge of doing something much worse.

“Nev,” he said finally. “I won’t let this go because it’s obviously killing you. Attack me again if you want, but I’d rather you talk to me.”

“You don’t understand,” I argued. “It’s not my story to tell.”

“Then let me try to put it together,” he replied in a careful tone. “Here are the pieces you’ve given me: Sabine isn’t the awful person I think she is and Efron is a monster. The way he’s a master of your pack isn’t what I’ve experienced as a Nightshade. All those things are connected.”

I said nothing. My blood roared in my ears. I needed to stop him, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

He cleared his throat, hesitating before he reached the logical conclusion. “Nev, what is Efron doing to Sabine?”

I lowered my gaze, my eyes burning. Why can’t I hide this from him?

Mason waited silently.

When I looked up at him through unshed tears, he went very still, pulling every awful truth I couldn’t voice out of my gaze.