Blaze of Secrets (Asylums for Magical Threats 1) - Page 26

Kiarra looked him in the eye and asked, “Jaxton, will you?”

He didn’t hesitate. “I swear on my brother’s life.”

Kiarra looked back to her sister. “Yes, I think he will.”

Cam waved a hand toward Jaxton’s gun arm. “First, slide your gun over to me.” He removed the clip and slid the gun across the floor. Cam released Kiarra and said, “Go to him, if that’s what you want.”

Kiarra looked like she wanted to say something to her sister, but she eventually took one step, and then another in Jaxton’s direction. When she was close enough, he tucked her close against his side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Kiarra relaxed against him.

With Kiarra’s now familiar warmth against his side, Jaxton’s tension began to fade, but he kept his head in the game and never took his eyes off of Cam.

He gestured for Cam to precede them. “Lead on, my lady.”

Cam scowled at the term, but exited the room, her boots pounding down the stairs. He squeezed Kiarra’s shoulders and asked, “How’re you holding up, pet?”

After all this time, Cam was alive. Kiarra had no idea why Cam would come here, now, scant days after her rescue from the AMT. If Cam had truly cared about her, why hadn’t she tried to find her before now?

But her mind could barely focus on anything else. Calming Garrett down had distracted her for a short while, but then Cam had been there, holding her by the shoulders and demanding to talk with her.

She was afraid of what she’d hear.

After years of trying to forget her old life, Cam had no right to demand anything of her. Kiarra knew her family had been happier after sending her to the AMT, but she wasn’t ready to hear about it. She would probably never be ready to hear it.

No one wanted to hear they were unwanted.

But Cam wasn’t listening to her and was trying to force unpleasant memories on Kiarra before she was ready.

Kiarra’s throat started to close up, sweat gathered on her palms, and a sense of helplessness started to take hold. If the past was anything to go on, she was about to have a panic attack.

No, no, NO. She wouldn’t let the past ruin her present. She could beat this.

It took a couple of deep breaths before she could focus on what Cam and Jaxton were saying to each other. Somehow she replied on automatic, until Cam told her to go to Jaxton, if that was what she wanted.

And she did. Jaxton was the only one who had helped her to relax and briefly forget about the AMT. He might be annoying, but he was training her for a purpose, a place with DEFEND.

Even if she didn’t yet know his reasoning, it had been Jaxton, and not Cam, who had rescued her from the AMT.

She went to him. When she reached his side, he pulled her close and Kiarra leaned on him for support. His touch was steadying and warm, and as his scent surrounded her, her sense of helplessness started to fade.

After some more words she didn’t hear, Cam marched out the door and Jaxton squeezed her shoulder. His voice rumbled in her ear. “How’re you holding up, pet?”

The familiarity of his lilting voice, combined with the stupid endearment, helped snap Kiarra out of the fading attack. “I’m not your pet.”

He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him, and saw his smile. “If you can snap, you must not be doing too poorly.”

He’d used the term on purpose. “Talking to Cam tonight is a bad idea.”

“You don’t have much of a choice, pet.”

She growled at the endearment, but didn’t let him distract her. “Cam was ten years old the last time I saw her. A lot has happened since then.” She hugged her ribcage. “And I’m honest enough with myself to know that I’m just not ready to confront her.”

“But aren’t you just the least bit curious about why she’s here? I reckon she didn’t have super-fast reflexes as a child, for one.” He tapped her shoulder. “She might not be here for the reason you think.”

She turned to get a better look at him. “Do you know something I don’t?”

Jaxton shook his head. “I’ve never seen the woman in my life. I would think that pointing a gun at her would’ve made that obvious.”

It was true that she didn’t know the real reason Cam was here. For so many years Kiarra had expected the worst of people, but maybe things were changing. She didn’t know Cam as an adult, but as a child, Cam would’ve never tried to cause her deliberate harm. Irritate and trick, yes, but not harm.

Tags: Jessie Donovan Asylums for Magical Threats Paranormal
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