He’s alive.
I had to trust he’d stay that way to carry out whatever he had planned.
“I need to end this, Nila.” Jethro pulled away, looking into my eyes. “You know as well as I do that we can’t be free until it’s dealt with.”
The cuts on my breastbone flared, agreeing with him. We’d suffered enough—it was their turn.
My eyes fell to his waist. It hadn’t escaped my notice that he refused to take his t-shirt off. However, he couldn’t hide the small pinprick of blood coming through the light grey material.
I reached for it.
He jolted back, clamping an arm around himself—glaring at me, daring me to question his conviction that he was strong enough to do this. “One day, two at the most. I’ll have everything in place and we can finally be happy.”
I shook my head. “Something will happen. It always does.” Tears rose. I hated that I was weak but I couldn’t deny it—the thought of going back to Hawksridge alone petrified me. “I can’t go back, Kite. Please, don’t make me.”
So much for not begging.
“They’ve hurt me. They almost won. I know you believe in me but I honestly don’t believe in myself anymore. Please…please don’t make me go back.”
I couldn’t stop shaking. I didn’t have the power to walk back there.
Jethro kissed the top of my head. “You’ve been so damn strong—stronger than me by far. I sent a note to Jasmine telling her what I’m planning. I asked her to make up an excuse to keep you in her room. She’ll watch over you. She’ll say you’re teaching her how to sew or something.” His voice dropped with love. “She’ll make sure you’re safe and out of their hands for two days.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Jasmine’s power was minimal, slipping further on a daily basis. Bonnie had her ways to restrict Jasmine. I wouldn’t put it past the old witch to poison her for going against dear ole’ granny.
If Bonnie ever finds out Jasmine’s working against her...
“What are you going to do? Two days is too much time.”
Time again.
The enemy to us all.
The sands of hell.
“I’m going to call for help.” Jethro’s jaw twitched as if the thought of admitting he needed others frustrated him.
“Who?”
He frowned. “Just leave it to me. Don’t worry about it.”
“Tell me. I want to know.”
“You need to get back before they find you’re missing.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t climb up the drainpipe. Go through the front door and ask Jasmine for a key. She’ll wipe the camera footage in the morning.”
I took a step backward, needing to distance myself so I could walk out of there without kneeling and begging to go with him. “You’re changing the subject. Tell me what you’re planning.”
He exited the stall, forcing me to follow him down the aisle. “What do you want to know?”
Why couldn’t he see that by asking me to trust him and willingly return to the Hall, he owed me everything?
It’s taking everything that I am not to show you how terrified I am. How lonely. How defeated. You have to give me something to cling to. Something that will keep me strong.
“I want to know what you mean to do.”
He looked over his shoulder, holding his side.
Was it just me or was his skin whiter than before? A fever kissing his brow?
I wanted to strap him to a bed and nurse him back to full health. He still had a long way to go—no matter how adamant he was.
His golden eyes flashed in the darkness. “Fine, I’m going to call Kill. The guy you met at Diamond Alley. I’m going to enlist his help.”
“And he’ll give it?”
“Let’s just say, we have an agreement. He’ll come.”
“But he’s in the States. It’ll take him two days just to get here.”
Jethro spun around, coming to plant his hands on my hips. “I also plan to contact someone else. Someone who’s been doing a great deal of conspiring over the past month. Someone who has had enough like me.”