Miscreants: Next Generation by Natalie Bennett (essential reading .txt) 📗

“Yeah,” he replied dismissively.

“Okay, so what time are you leaving, and who are taking with you?”

He tilted his head to the side and gave me a scrutinizing perusal. “What’s with all questions, Lils? Planning on going somewhere?”

My pulse spiked. There was no way he could know what we were up to, right? That wasn’t why I’d even asked. I was genuinely concerned about him. Composure in check, I waved his question off.

“Only if you take me with you.”

“You and I both know that’s not possible.”

“But why? I’ve been at the lodge for over a year. I’m going stir crazy.”

“When will you let it go? We’ve been over this. It isn’t safe for you out there.”

“It’s not safe for you either!”

“You don’t know what they’re—”

He cut himself off and ran a hand through his hair, a sign he was frustrated. “Fuck, Lilith. You’re the only person who drives me fucking crazy.”

“Good,” I lilted. Then, because he’d just irritated me, I looked around the room for something to launch at his damn head.

His gruff burst of laughter had my attention bouncing back to him.

“Looking for something to throw?”

“No. That would be childish.”

He gave me a cocky grin. “I think you forget how well I know you, babygirl.”

His smile…his smile was what made the truth strike me. That this could be the last time we were together like this. The harsh slap of reality stoked flames of slow burning anger and caused my heart to split further apart. I hadn’t remotely begun to contemplate this. I didn’t know how to process life without him.

If he were the sun, I was the moon. One wasn’t supposed to be able to exist without the other, but he’d gone and built a wall between us, taking on the weight of the world alone.

I knew he had his reasons, protecting me amongst them. He’d done that time and time again. Then one day he’d stopped letting me in. I didn’t understand. To think I’d have to walk away from him when there was so much left to talk about…How was it possible to feel this level of pain and still be so in love?

“I didn’t want this.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, harsher than I meant to. The bitterness that crept up my throat earned me another look I couldn’t decipher.

“I didn’t come here to argue with you.”

“Then why are you here? This cabin isn’t exactly near anything or anyone else.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be awake when I head out tomorrow. I came to make sure you were okay.”

“As you can see, I’m fine.” I stretched my arms out on either side of me.

He narrowed his eyes, his expression going from stoic to studious. “You’re lying.”

“How are you going to tell me what or how I feel?”

“Because you tend to lie about it.”

“Mal.” I sighed and rubbed my brow. “I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do. I’m fine. You can leave now.”

“Nah, I think I’ll stay here tonight.”

“That better be sarcasm.”

Of course, with my luck it wasn’t. He began to kick his boots off, stretching leisurely in the process.

“Um. What are you doing? The couch is in the other room.”

“If you need me to clarify, I meant I’ll be sleeping in your bed.”

Oh, no. I couldn’t be that close to him right now. My resolve was on the line.

“And how would Dawn feel about this?”

“That you think about her far more than I do? She’d probably feel freaked the fuck out.”

“Whatever. You can have the bed. I’ll take the couch.”

I started to storm past him. He side-stepped and blocked my path.

“If I’m sleeping in your bed, it’s because you’re in it.”

“But I’m not.”

“I can fix that.”

He scooped me up, hoisting me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing. Ignoring all my protests and struggles, he carried me to the bed and dropped me.

I hit the mattress, bounced once, and then immediately tried to get up. His hand shot out and wrapped around my throat, forcing me backward until I was flat on my back. His grip wasn’t tight enough to hurt but strong enough to make my body do his bidding.

“Now, Lilith,” he reprimanded in a mockingly stern voice, towering above me. “This is just one of the many reasons you’re not allowed to leave. You see how easy it would be for a man to take advantage of you?”

“This is only happening because it’s you,” I retorted.

“Are you sure about that?”

He leaned down, positioning his body on top of mine. His face hovering a hair’s breadth away, our lips skimmed.

“You always liked it like this. You get off knowing that I could kill you at any second.”

He placed a soft kiss on my forehead before rising enough to see my face. I swallowed, wondering if he could feel the way my pulse was racing against his palms. I should’ve pushed him away, but I really wanted to pull him close.

“Is there a point to any of this?”

“What do you think I’m proving right now? Look at the position you’re in. If not me, who could keep you safe?”

“Myself.” I grabbed hold of one of his offending wrists and tried to turn my head.

“You remember Francis?”

I winced as his grip grew tighter, trapping me beneath his heavy gaze. I knew he was taunting me. I wetted my lips, cognizant of him watching my every little move. Like a predator studying its prey.

“How could I forget?” I rasped.

To be honest, I hadn’t thought about that in a while.

That incident didn’t cause as big an uproar as it should’ve. And no one had ever suspected Samael. Then again, at that time he