Page 72 of Splintered Desire

“If I’d known, I swear I wouldn’t have, but you have to understand—”

“Understand that you were going to rape me?” He flinches at my words, and I feel empowered by his reaction.

This huge man cowers before me.

“Or understand that it was okay when you thought I was just someone else?”

“No!” he shouts in a rush, holding his hands up in surrender before he shakes his head. “I mean, yes, but I didn’t have a choice. I have to protect my sister and mother from the monster she married.”

I look down at him and see the truth in his eyes. The Ozy I know loved his mother more than anything else in the world, and while he didn’t have a sister back then, it’s not hard to imagine him fierce and protective.

“Everyone has a choice, and you made yours.” I turn to walk away, but again he stops me, his fingers wrapping around my hip to pull me back, and it’s the final straw.

Turning, I pour all my hurt and anger into my leg as I bring my knee up, and it catches him right across the face.

Unfortunately, it’s not a lot, given how fucking exhausted I am, but it’s enough for him to drop his hand, needing it to catch himself as he topples to the side, his other hand coming up to hold his jaw.

I expect him to yell or curse, but a smirk pulls at his lips as he looks up at me.

“Not the sloppy, helpless kid anymore, huh?” His eyes are sad, and I have to look away, knowing I’ll cave if he keeps this up.

“I’m nobody to you, not anymore,” I tell him, forcing the words out even though they feel like they are tearing my heart out as I say them.

And then I leave without looking back.

He’s following me; I can feel him at my back like my own shadow, but he stays far enough away that I choose to ignore him. I don’t have the time or the energy to fight with him right now. Who knows how much time I’ve already wasted? It feels like an eternity.

“Zela, ru—” Ozy’s shout is cut short by a grunt of pain, and I whip around just in time to see him go down, hard.

Even with my anger still burning hot, I can’t stop the way my body responds, and I’m moving back toward him only to stop abruptly when I see what happened, or should I say, who.

“Fuck, you might be even more irresistible like this,” Jace all but purrs as he licks his lips, his eyes dragging down my body and making me feel even grosser than I did being covered in mud.

I stand frozen for a moment before I register the large branch at his feet that I know wasn’t there a few moments ago. If it were, I would have tripped on it.

Which means…

Panic fills me as I do the only thing I can: turning and taking off into the trees, praying I don’t black out, or maybe that would be better.

He doesn’t hesitate; the sound of his boots sloshing through the mud and every puddle makes my heart race until I’m positive it’s going to beat right out of my chest.

"You were made for me, Zela! You can’t run from destiny!” he singsongs, and he’s closer now. I can hear him so clearly that I know I won’t make it.

All of this for what?

My foot catches on something I can’t see as my eyes well with angry tears, and I curse the universe for my inability to control my emotions.

He hits my back hard, and all I can do is brace for impact, but it never comes. At least not the way I expected.

I peel my eyes open to find I’m on top of Jace. His eyes are bright, and the smile on his face is so damn wide it looks like it should be painful. His arms are wrapped around my waist, holding me to him, and he’s breathing fast and hard.

Did he…

No, there’s no way he would do that, right?

But nothing else makes sense.

“Did you take the fall?” I can’t help but ask, and I swear his smile grows as he nods.