Page 104 of A Cruel Kindness

We walked in silence back to the cabin and I just felt thankful that I had somewhat of a support system through this fucking mess.

One that was willing to do anything to help me. That fact was evidenced by Esme laying herself down on the line to distract from the tension brewing.

The second we walked into the cabin, into the stifling, uncomfortable silence, she immediately picked a fight with Ford. “Did you touch my sweatshirt?” she snapped at him with forced harshness.

I knew she was doing it for me, but she always seemed more comfortable when they were annoying each other.

“I didn’t touch your sweatshirt, Esme,” Ford said carefully, looking up at her from his crouch on the floor where he was cleaning his rifle.

“Really? Because your insane commitment to organization probably made it disappear!”

“It wouldn’t fit me,” was Ford’s low, steady response.

“That doesn’t matter!”

“Yes, it does. I wouldn’t have any use for it. Do you think I’d take something I don’t have any use for?”

Esme tripped over Ford’s easy response, absolutely refusing to engage with her. She tried a different path. “I’m taking one of yours until I find it then!” she all but shrieked.

Something passed over Ford’s face, but he eventually responded, “Alright.”

“Ugh!” Esme yelled, throwing her hands up in frustration. Even if their tiff had started to give everyone something to focus on, Ford had clearly actually aggravated her.

I felt like smiling for the first time all day.

That urge shattered when Esme disappeared into their room, Ford on her heels, and I was forced to be alone with Soren again.

When I walked into our half of the cabin, I realized that Soren had already gotten in the shower. Probably to wash off the day.

I needed to do the same, but my clothes still smelled a little like him. I wasn’t ready for that to be washed away by the water and our new circumstances.

Regardless, I entered the bathroom after he left, our maneuvering stunted and awkward. Even before, when we were trying to avoid each other and the Bond, it didn’t feel like this.

We should have heeded the warning better.

Though our individual goals hadn’t mattered in the grand scheme of things, this would be a lot less painful if I hadn’t thrown caution to the wind and fallen for him.

The bathroom was still steamy from the shower and I was grateful for the fog in the mirror. I didn’t want to see what I looked like.

I used up all the hot water, sitting on the floor of the shower for an indiscriminate amount of time until the rain falling down on me grew cold.

Only then did I leave the bathroom, only to find our bedroom empty. Or so I thought, until I walked to the far side of the bed and saw that Soren had set up a cot on the floor.

He was turned toward the wall, either feigning sleep or actually slumbering from exhaustion.

The bed felt too cold, too empty without him.

At some point, I fell into a daze, my mind tired and unable to resist the Bond anymore. As I drifted into unconsciousness, the last thing I heard it say was, No. Not without him.

Chapter 26

Soren

I was shocked I found sleep at all, but somehow, my eyes blinked open at dawn feeling oddly rested.

That was when I noticed the warmth curling down my back, the arm slung over my midriff in a tight grip.

Bellamy’s breath coasted over the base of my neck in soft little washes while her limbs tangled with mine as thoroughly as they could.