Page 34 of Realm of the Wicked

Even as I wanted to talk to her about the book, point out my favorite parts, and the characters I hated, I stayed silent, watching her reaction carefully.

That tiny, niggling feeling of something different bubbled to the surface again when Stella looked back at me, the book still in hand. ‘It’s funny. I feel like I’ve been here for a lifetime already.’

I smirked. ‘I did tell you that time works differently here. It stretches differently than it does on Earth. Some things will feel a lot longer than you’re used to, and other things will fly by.’

‘Oh.’ Her careful brown eyes clouded over, and she wasn’t looking at me any more, but past me. I could practically hear the thoughts burning in her brain as she processed.

I had a feeling Stella was used to picking up a lot more information than she let on. A useful talent to have here, for sure, but I desperately wanted to know what she was carefully filing me away as.

Was I the monster under the bed made whole, stealing her away from her comfortable life? Or was it too much to ask to be the hero, saving her from an endless loop of monotony and complacency?

There was that feeling again. Hope.

‘What are you thinking about?’ The words came out harsher than I meant them. I was going to have to work on my mannerisms around her. I was out of practice having to be polite.

Stella pushed a loose lock of hair out of her face, only for it to promptly fall back into place. It would be too much for me to tuck it behind her ear for her, wouldn’t it?

‘Nothing much, really. Just trying to figure out where I fit into this whole time thing. Does it feel like I’ve been here forever or seconds to you?’

‘Both.’ You’ve taken up residence in my mind for far longer than you could ever imagine, I fear.

She turned, clutching the book to her chest like a lifeline, and took a deep breath. ‘I came to find you because I felt bad about how angry you got at dinner. I feel like it was my fault.’

I frowned. ‘You feel like it was your fault for me losing my temper? I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work like that, Bambi.’

‘You wouldn’t be annoyed or on edge if the Council hadn’t shown up, and they only showed up because I’m causing problems. So, yes, I’m sorry.’

‘You’re here because of me.’ Her convoluted logic made my head spin. I hadn’t realized quite how far a guilt complex could run. How could she spin being in my debt for eternity into her fault?

‘Maybe.’ She sighed, biting her lip, and I wondered what it would be like to sink my own teeth into her soft skin.

Would she like it? Would she sigh with pleasure, and beg me for more?

‘Maybe it would be easier for everyone if you just took it. Give the Council what they want so they’ll leave you alone. It’s not like I really have a choice, after all. You made that pretty clear.’

And there it was. The subtle resentment I knew she harbored, disguised behind some good manners and excitement over a book.

I should’ve known better than to think a few drops of good would outweigh the bad.

I leaned back against the hard shelf as I pinched my nose. ‘Don’t start this, Stella. I’m not in a great mood, and I don’t want to go over this again.’

‘But, I—’ She looked up at me with those bright brown eyes, wide and sincere.

I would do anything for her. I’d give her the world if she asked. But I wouldn’t do this.

‘No,’ I snapped. If she wouldn’t let go willingly, I’d have to force her to understand why it was such a bad idea. ‘I told you to drop it. I told Agatha to drop it. You don’t understand what’s at stake here. You don’t understand anything. You’re naïve at best. So stop fucking picking. I’m not taking your soul and that’s final.’

I watched as my words cut deep, watching as they hit their mark. Her once open and vulnerable eyes shuttered, and her full lips pressed into a tight line. Stella gripped the book in her hand and turned away from me.

‘I’m going to bed. I wanted to make sure you were okay after dinner, and obviously, you’re doing just fine without any outside influence, so I’ll leave you to it.’ She stomped past me, a deep red flush spreading across her cheeks. From anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t tell. Maybe both.

Regardless, it was my fault. I’d wanted to push her away – from me, from losing her soul, from the truth – but now a strange sense of guilt took root inside my chest. Stella didn’t deserve the anger that should’ve been directed toward me. She was leaving now, storming away from me, and I had no one to blame except myself.

‘Fuck.’ I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

‘No,’ she snapped, still glaring. ‘You shouldn’t have.’

Stella was only a couple inches away from me, close enough, I could feel the brush of her chest as she heaved in angry breaths.