gouged his skin. Somewhere in the background a phone rang dimly.
The scene paused. For a breathless moment the line between past and present
blurred. My heart shattered at the grim acceptance darkening Kelsey’s eyes. A sickening knowing rose, one I didn’t want to acknowledge.
Ellery jerked her up and back, and her desperate warning to run whispered across my soul. A sharp stinging sensation tore across my cheekbone and the scene began to fracture with an audible snap and slip away. Even as I rose to the
present with Kayden’s help, unbelievable pain ripped through my mind and
heart.
Screaming with fury and fear, I lunged forward to capture the images falling
away like a broken windowpane and fell into the yawning pit.
AWARENESS CAME BACK IN PIECES. First was the sound of my name blending in
with the bongo drums pounding in my skull. Then the dull ache radiating from
my temple to jaw joined in. When I tried to speak, the razor blades lining my throat changed my words into whimpers. It was almost enough to drive me back
into oblivion, but the niggling sensation of impending disaster blocked the tempting escape route. As the discordant symphony of aches and pain began to
recede, I realized Kayden was yelling at me.
“Cyn! Dammit, Cyn, answer me.”
I forced my eyes open and flinched at the shadow hovering over me.
“Relax, it’s me.” Kayden pulled back and my surroundings came into hazy
focus. “Are you with me?”
I raised a hand to my throat, swallowed, and winced. Instead of answering, I
nodded.
“If you can sit up, I’ll get you water.”
No wonder my floor was so comfortable. I was half sitting in Kayden’s lap.
With his help, I managed to prop myself against the wall under the counter while he grabbed a glass of water. I focused on just breathing, doing my best not
to trigger the emotional avalanche poised to crash on my head.
A glass appeared on the edge of my vision. My arm shook as I reached out.
Kayden kept his hand on the glass, steadying it. “Take it slow,” he warned.
I sipped until the razor blades dulled enough to speak. “Did you get
anything?” He let me take the glass and I cradle it in my lap.
“It’s Ellery’s signature.” He brushed gentle fingers over my aching cheek, down my throat, and over my scars, some strong emotion darkening his eyes and
tightening his jaw. “You’re going to have some very interesting bruises.”
My hand rose and covered his on my neck. “They’re Kelsey’s. They’ll fade.”
His gaze flickered to my cheek. “Not that one.” His fingers stilled. “Does this always happen?”
My fingers tightened, then dropped away. I shook my head. “No, just when I
go too deep.”
He pulled his hand free and cradled the side of my face. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know.” My answer was a mere whisper. And a horrible lie.
Hot tears rose and burned a path over my cold cheeks. I pulled away,
struggling to get to my feet. Ignoring Kayden’s attempts to help, I grabbed the cell phone off the counter. This time, I would force my ability to bend to my demands. For once it would help me.
Sharp, stabbing pains sliced lines across my vision and Kayden’s curses
turned into background noise. It hurt so much, I wanted to drop to my knees, but
the need to prove I hadn’t failed my sister kept me upright.
