“Where did you go?”
I shook my head even though it hurt. “Nowhere, just nodded off for a moment.”
My mind hadn’t assimilated the little meeting with Esteban, and I wouldn’t tell Fin about it until I knew for sure it wasn’t a pain-induced hallucination. Or until I knew he wouldn’t use me as bait again in another of his plans.
He carried me down the long hallway and up into the light of the main house. No one popped out and attacked, so I counted us lucky. We made it to the driveway and Fin planted me on my feet. I leaned heavily on him so I didn’t fall over on the driveway.
“I have to call a car. Something tells me the valet isn’t around to help us out,” he said, and fished a phone from his pocket.
“You’re such a dick. You brought knives, and you brought a phone. I got lipstick and a sparkly handbag for accessories.”
He ignored me and hit a few buttons on the phone before dropping it on the driveway and smashing it. I assumed on purpose.
Still glued to his side, holding myself up, I glared at him. “If I haven’t told you I hate you yet today, consider this yesterday’s. I reserve today’s declaration for after I see the doctor.”
He chuckled. “We’ll see about that. My doctor has a very extensive collection of prescription pain medications. You might change your tune by then.”
A few minutes later, a black car wound up the drive and stopped in front of us. The captain rushed from the driver’s side and helped us into the backseat. I didn’t bother with my seatbelt. At this rate, with my luck, we would get into a head on crash before we reached the hospital.
“Take me home,” I said, forehead pressed against the cold window.
Fin shifted on the other side of me. “No, I’m taking you to my house. My doctor is already there waiting for us. You won’t die, Zoey. I won’t allow it.”
“Oh, if you forbid it then.”
He let out a frustrated groan. “Why do you have to be difficult? I have round-the-clock servants, food, medical care. And you want me to take you to your tiny apartment to care for yourself? How is that logical?”
I shrugged but regretted it when the pain shot down my arms. “I don’t trust you. I don’t trust magic or this world of yours.”
“Ours. Don’t think I am oblivious enough not to notice the power coming off you now.”
I grunted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“In the cave, somethi
ng happened when you died. Like a binding on you broke. You have magic. I don’t know how or what, but I feel it pouring out of you. Our first task will be to teach you to shield it so no one else can see or feel it.”
I turned to look at his perfect profile. “So, what now, you take me home, lock me up, and use me as a guinea pig?”
“Damn it, woman. No. I plan to continue our mission to catch the Black Mage and bring him down. My resolve in that aspect has never wavered.”
Why did he always have to be strong? Always make me feel like the childish woman who doesn’t have any idea what she’d gotten herself into.
He took my hands in his and gently turned my face enough to meet my eyes. “You aren’t alone anymore, Zoey. I want to work with you. I want to fight by your side and help you figure out your magic so you can amplify your already indomitable spirit. I want to be your friend. Let me in.”
Great. Now I felt like an asshole. A tear slid down the side of my cheek and I lied to myself, blaming the overwhelming pain.
“I don’t...”
“Need anyone. Yeah, you’ve made that clear. But you can’t live your life shutting everyone else out. Not everyone wants to fuck you over.”
I sat up and shoved him back. “You used me as bait, and I’m supposed to trust you?”
I hadn’t accepted how much he’d hurt me. If he’d confided in me, I didn’t know if I’d have gone through with it, especially knowing how it ended. But the bastard didn’t give me the choice. He’d made it for me, thinking he knew best.
“You didn’t let me choose to help,” I said. “You used me and now look at me.”
His frown deepened, and he reached out to touch my face. I pushed him away. If another person petted me, they would see the business end of my knife.