“You feel too much.” Sylas props his foot up on the ledge of the roof. “You’re going to have to turn it off, or else it’s going to get the best of you.”
“Is that what you do?” I meet his eyes, my hair dusting my cheeks as the wind howls. “Do you turn it off Sylas? Is your uncaring behavior just an act?”
His eyes never waver and his eyebrows rise with a challenge. “You te...ll me. After all, you do know me better than anyone. At least you used to.”
His gaze makes me nervous, like it always does whenever he sneaks into my emotions. From behind us, Tristan moans and Emmy snarls, but I don’t let my eyes cower away from Sylas. The longer I focus on him, the less unsettled my body feels. I feel a newfound surge of energy, one that wants answers, one that knows I’m about to cross a dangerous line. In a quick shooting motion, I snap my hand up and grab onto Sylas’ arm. I grip tightly, digging my nails into his skin. He’s surprised, eyes blinking wildly, like no one has ever touched him without permission. For one brief second, his guard and control crumbles. A window opens, revealing a small insight into his soul. He’s always afraid… always afraid of failing, of letting people in, of being human, yet at the same time, he fears he’s lost all of his humanity.
“An act,” I say boldly.
His eyes flare and his lips curl, allowing his teeth to dangerously glint in the night. I worry he might shove me off the roof and let me fall to my death. And maybe he would have, if Tristan hadn’t beat him to the punch.
As the blow of Emmy’s scream slams against my eardrums, Tristan’s body crashes into mine. Our bodies tangle as we fly airborne, off the edge of the roof, and plummet to the ground, toward my death. I shut my eyes. But I feel something sparkle against my head and my eyelids whip open to Tristan’s smile. He has one hand on my head and the other on my hip.
“Don’t forget me,” he says and the sparkles in my head ignite, and I can feel everything he’s ever felt.
It’s the most powerful thing I’ve ever felt and I’ll never be able to forget it.
Then he releases me, only a few feet from the ground.