I kept seeing the dagger slice my father’s throat. My real father—the man who’d raised me and had always been there.
Theo’s chest was muscled and firm against me, but there was something soft in the way he held me.
He smoothed my messy hair off my forehead and looked into my sad eyes.
“What’d you see?” he coaxed.
He didn’t tell me I was crazy for thinking it was real, instead he actually wanted to listen. I was silently grateful he was there. I couldn’t have imagined waking up from this alone. I didn’t think I could have bared it.
“My d-dad,” I stuttered and Theo wiped the wet tears from my cheeks. I still clung to him like a buoy and I was lost at sea. I kept expecting him to push me away at any moment, to get distance between us, but either he hadn’t noticed our situation or he didn’t care.
“He was tied to a ch-chair. He was in a room, or a dungeon of some sorts. I don’t know. I didn’t pay much attention to that part.” I shook my head at my own stupidity. If the dream was real, then I probably could’ve learned something from the room—where The Iniquitous might be hiding. “He was …,” I had to pause and gather my thoughts before I continued. This wasn’t easy. “He was being tortured,” I finished, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “The man … He wanted to know where I was, but my dad kept saying he didn’t know. The man didn’t believe him. He kept asking him over and over, and my dad was already bruised and beaten. He even had cut marks on him like they’d sliced his skin open to let the blood pour out. Th-Then …” I closed my eyes, feeling bile rise in the back of my throat. “Th-Then he s-slit his throat.” My sobs returned even stronger than before.
“Mara,” Theo breathed. “I’m sorry.”
“He’s my only family. Was. He was my only family.”
Theo pressed his lips together. He didn’t tell me I was wrong.
“It was a vision, wasn’t it?” I asked through my tears.
He winced. “I’m afraid so. Not all Chosen have visions, but it’s not uncommon, either. If it felt so real to you, then I think it was.”
“That wasn’t the worst part,” I whispered.
Never in a million years did I think I’d be saying something was worse than watching my dad be murdered.
Theo tilted his head in waiting.
“It was Thaddeus,” I whispered. “Thaddeus Lucero killed him and … he knew I was there.”
Theo’s eyes widened in horror. “He shouldn’t have been able to sense you. You’re pure while he’s not.”
“Pure?” I asked.
“You haven’t toyed with dark magic,” he explained. “You haven’t altered your soul so that makes you pure. The only reason I can think of him being able to sense you is it must be because you’re his child. You’re essentially a part of him—a small part, with the way he’s altered himself, but still.”
“He said he was going to find me,” I whispered, my lips quaking in horror. “Me, him, and my mother. He said we’d be a family again. I thought she was dead?”
Theo’s brows furrowed. “She is. He killed her. Maybe he’s gone mad enough to think she’s alive.”
I laughed but there was no humor in the tone. “How ironic. He killed my mother and now he’s killed the only father I’ve known.”
“I won’t let him take anyone else from you,” Theo vowed.
I swallowed thickly, my eyes flicking to his lips and back up. “It’s you I’m most worried about,” I admitted. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“Mara,” he breathed, and I knew he was seconds away from pushing me away.
“Don’t,” I begged. “Please don’t. I just need another minute.”
He wrapped his arms tighter around me and I was shocked he didn’t protest. He probably needed this as much as I did.
His body was warm against mine and I itched to kiss him. It actually hurt to keep myself from doing it. My body, heart, and soul yearned for him in a way I didn’t understand. I truly believed we were connected more than him being my protector, but I knew if I said something to him it’d only freak him out and have him push me away.
I counted down a minute and then I pulled away from him. I hated to do it, but I knew I couldn’t stay in his arms forever, and better for me to let go first than to feel like he was pushing me away.
He cleared his throat and stood.
I couldn’t help but appreciate the sight of him in the white towel and nothing else. His tattoos were dark against his skin and his hair was curling as it dried. He looked back at me and I waited for a wisecrack to come about my staring but none did.
He finally turned and the bathroom door clicked closed behind him.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Theodore had this way of stealing all the oxygen in the room. It was like his presence was so potent it sucked it all out. I glanced at the clock and saw it was still early, but I knew there was no way I’d sleep now, so I got out of bed and grabbed a change of clothes.
“Don’t even think about coming out yet,” I told him through the door. “I’m getting naked.”
“You can’t tell a man that and expect him not to open the door,” he chortled.
“I will zap you,” I warned.
He growled, “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I’ve already done it before, so don’t tempt me.”
He made some sort of noise, which I assumed meant he’d agreed to keep the door closed.
I changed into a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeved black top.
“You’re safe now,” I called.
He opened the door and cracked a smile. “Look at us, doll face. We match.”
Sure enough, he was dressed similarly in a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt, but his sleeves were rolled up. I couldn’t help but sport an amused smile.
Sobering, he stepped up to me and wrapped a strand of my wavy hair around his finger.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “About your dad.”
My lips turned down and I dammed back my emotions. “I guess that’s what happens in this world, right? I mean, you lost your parents. Everyone keeps saying this isn’t a war, but this sure feels like one to me.”
He sighed and let my hair fall. “It is a war, but most are scared to admit it.”
I bit my lip. “You have to make me strong enough to kill him.”
“Kill who?” he asked, confused.
“Thaddeus. I want to kill him.”
“Mara—” he started, but I silenced him.
“No. I want to kill him. I’ll find a way to train myself without you and do this, but I’d rather have you on my side. Now, are you with me or not?”
He studied me for a moment and shook his head. Finally, he sighed and smiled.
“I’m with you. Always.”
Chapter 22
PUNCH. PUNCH. JAB. PUNCH. DUCK.
“Again,” Theo commanded.
We were both covered in sweat. We’d been working on hand-to-hand combat for a good two hours now. I was exhausted but he kept pushing me, because he insisted you never knew how long a fight might last so I needed to build my stamina. I didn’t argue with him, because I knew he was right. I wouldn’t tell him, though—telling Theo he was right would give him bragging rights for a solid year.
My breath came out raggedly, and I flicked a piece of sweat-dampened hair from my eyes.
Punch.
Duck.
Jab.
Jab.