Page 74 of Splintered Desire

That thought is enough to sober me and kick my ass into gear. I might not be able to escape Jace, but Kol said I could be free, and I’m so close.

I have to try.

Shoving to my feet, I take off. I hear Jace call out behind me, but I don’t stop to soak in his words; my mind’s only thinking of the next step as I move through the trees.

“Zela!”

The sound of my name gives me pause, not because someone is calling for me, but because of who is calling for me.

He shouldn’t be here, not only because it’s dangerous but also because he shouldn’t have known we were here, wherever here is.

“Not so fast,” Kolson sneers, coming out of nowhere, wrapping an arm around my chest, a knife pressed to my throat, making me freeze. “You lose, little sister.”

He nods toward the horizon, and I see the sun as it begins to rise in earnest now. I don’t even try to stop the tears that track down my face, but I keep my eyes forward, unwilling to give him any more satisfaction at my misery.

“Let her go, Kolson,” Reed calls, and I turn my attention toward him, and where he stands with Jace on his knees, his hair gripped in his fist, holding him there, a gun pressed to his temple.

He must have been the one shooting a minute ago.

I guess that makes sense considering he always has that gun on him, but somehow I’d never thought he would actually use it.

“She is ours, a DuPont. We can do with her what we please. You should know your place.” His words are venomous as he spits his reply as if Reed doesn’t even deserve his acknowledgment.

“Let her go, or I’m going to put a fucking bullet in his head.” To his credit, Reed doesn’t seem the least bit fazed. It’s almost as if someone asked him about the weather, but something tells me he isn’t bluffing either.

Kolson seems to know that too, judging by the sound of his grinding molars.

With a groan of annoyance, he pulls his knife away before shoving me forward. Caught off guard, I stumble and fall onto my hands and knees.

Jace looks like he wants to reach for me but can’t, and a second later, I hear him grunt before he falls onto the ground, splashing into the puddle we’re both in, before I’m being scooped up. I look up to find Reed, his familiar face giving me more comfort than I would have thought possible after what just happened, even as a deep frown mars his usually happy face.

“I’m so sorry, kid,” he breathes as he continues taking us who knows where. It doesn’t matter, not really. I’m not sure he could make this night any worse, but he sure as fuck can make it better. He has been ever since he fired that first shot.

Exhaustion makes my limbs feel heavy, and I lean my head on his chest as my eyes fall closed, unable to fight it off any longer.

Hopefully, I don’t have a concussion.

“It’s alright. Get some sleep. I’ve got you now. You're safe.” I’m not sure if he’s trying to convince himself or me, but I believe him.

Reed is the only person I have left, and if I can’t believe him, well, I’m not sure I’ll survive another betrayal.

The last thing I hear is Reed’s soft words as his lips press to the top of my head, and darkness finally takes me.