Page 87 of The Knucklebone Brothers

For a moment, neither of us moved. I genuinely didn't know whether to laugh or be offended. The idea was so absurd that somethin' almost hysterical bubbled in my chest.

"Throw you away?" I asked, my voice a low, dangerous purr.

She stared at me, her eyes wide and wild, her breath catchin' in her throat. "Yes."

"Pretty thing..." I stepped toward her, my boots heavy on the wood. She backed away, her body tight. "You think that's what this is?"

"You're gonna realize there's somethin' wrong with me."

I smiled, a slow, spreadin' thing that was all teeth and no warmth. "There is."

Her expression shattered, the last of her fight drainin' away, leavin' her raw and exposed. I watched her, my eyes dartin' over her face.

I took another step, the sound like a warning. "And that's my favorite part."

She stopped breathing for a second, her chest frozen.

"You think I wanted some little thing who would smile and behave?" I laughed softly. "Aurora, look at us." I gestured toward myself, then at Blythe, who stood there, a silent, broodin' shadow. "You really think we're sittin' here expectin' normal?"

She shook her head, her hair fallin' across her face, a dark, tangled mess. "You don't understand."

"Oh, I understand perfectly."

"No."

"Yes." I took another step, closin' the distance between. "You think the thing clawin' its way out of you is somethin' you need to be ashamed of."

Her eyes flickered, a spark of defiance in their depths.

I reached for her face, my fingers slow, givin' her time to pull away. She flinched, her body tensin', but she didn't run. I stopped just short of touchin' her, my hand hoverin' in the air between us, a silent promise. "Let it out."

Her breathing hitched, a small, sharp sound. "What?"

"Let her out," I repeated, my voice a low, hypnotic rhythm. I smiled, a slow, spreadin' thing. "Maybe she'll like it here."

A sob tore out of her, a raw, ragged sound that seemed to tear at her throat. "She isn't good."

"Neither are we."

"She'll hurt people."

"So will we."

"She'll ruin everything."

I finally touched her cheek, my fingers tracing the line of her jaw, the skin soft and warm under my touch. "Then we'll make a mess together."

Her face crumpled, the last of her fight drainin' away, leavin' her raw and exposed. And then she dropped. Just folded in on herself, hittin' the floor so hard I heard the breath leave her, a soft, final whoosh that seemed to suck all the air out of the room.

Blythe moved in first, his face a mask of grim amusement, his hands reachin' for her like he was grabbin' a spooked horse. I followed, kneelin' down on the floorboards beside her shattered body. I pulled her against me, her body a tremblin' thing in my arms.

"I can't breathe," she gasped, her voice a thin, ragged whisper.

"Then don't," I said, my voice a low, steady rumble. "Let her out."

"I can't."

"You can."