Page 50 of Glutton for Punishment

Screw logical.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he says softy. He closes the small distance left between us. His hand lifts and hesitates for just a fraction of a second, like he’s giving me time to pull away.

I don’t.

His fingers brush against my temple, and he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my forehead.

It’s so gentle, it makes me want to cry. My chest tightens painfully.

When he pulls back, his expression is composed again, that perfect mask sliding back into place.

“I’ll see you soon, Arwen. Be safe.”

Don’t go, I want to say.

Come back. Stay with me.

I say none of it.

“Try not to start a war while you’re gone,” I manage instead.

His mouth curves. “No promises.”

The door closes behind him, and it feels like my safety blanket for the past month being ripped away. I stand there for a long time after, staring at nothing.

Trying not to think about the fact that one bond is drawing me closer—

While the other just walked away.

Chapter 16

Maddox

Iglare at the message that comes across my phone.

Lucas: Councilor wants to meet with you. And the girl. Tonight.

Of course he does. A muscle in my jaw twitches, the bone locking tight. He made a mention last night about hearing I had an unexpected guest.

Maddox: He was just biding his time. I expected this.

I scrub a hand down my face and lean back against the wall, eyes closing just long enough to picture the alternative.

Grab her. Get her on a chopper. Head straight back to Gravesend. Lock it down. My territory. My rules.

No Feastwell politics. No watching eyes. No family circling like vultures.

My fingers flex.

Yeah. That would last about five minutes. Because they would just come to me. And worse… it reveals my hand, shows them exactly how much I care.

A hard bang slams against the door, and I straighten, irritation snapping through me. Who the fuck—

Another bang. Louder.

I cross the room in two strides and rip the door open, ready to tear into whoever thinks they have a right…

Freezing, I find Arwen, face flushed red, bright blue eyes blazing in anger, some type of garment clutched in her hand.