Sunlight burst through the curtains, piercing my eyes.

I flung my arm over my face and groaned, trying to get back under the covers.

"Get up. We have to go." A man's voice said from the foot of the bed.

Christian had gotten us a different room, two rooms actually, but with a connecting door last night.

Smart man. Otherwise, I might've murdered him in his sleep last night.

"Five more minutes," I said, rolling over.

"I won't ask again. Get up and start packing."

"Who pissed in your cheerios this morning?" I asked as I stretched and shoved the blankets off me, swinging my feet off the side of the bed.

He ignored me.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

He disappeared into the bathroom.

A few moments later, he called out.

"Are you packing?"

"No. Until you tell me where we're going."

"I already told you it's somewhere safe, Aimee, and that's all you need to know."

"But...what about my family?"

Christian shook his head, in the process of shrugging on a t-shirt.

I looked away, trying to be polite or whatever.

We definitely didn't want a repeat of last night happening, that was for sure, especially with the way he was acting now.

"We need to get to Reader Nation as soon as possible."

"But—what about the Verlac's?"

"I don't think they have your family. Besides, there's nothing you and I can do about it. We'll need the King's help if we are to face the Verlacs."

"That'll take longer!" I protested.

I hated how whiny I sounded but I couldn't just run away and forget all about my family and go hide in a castle somewhere like a coward.

"It's the best course of action. Be smart about this, Aimee."

"Brandon said Verlac's wife was ill. He's a man racing against the clock. My family might not have much longer."

"Aimee," He said, sounding irritated. "It's been decided. We're going to Reader Nation. Now pack."

"But you promised me you'd help me find them and now you're just giving up!"

"I'm not giving up. I'm trying to keep you alive." He threw his arms up in exasperation.

"Don't lie to me."

"What?"

"It's less—it's less work to simply deliver me to this Henric guy. You're taking the easy way out. The coward's way."

Christian paused over his suitcase.

Anger transformed his face into a sneer.

"You know what? You're right. It would be much easier. I'm growing tired of babysitting you."

My jaw clenched.

"Babysitting me." I repeated.

"That's right. You're a child, whiny and disrespectful."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know I owed you any type of respect."

"You know what, Aimee, yeah, you do, because without me you'd be dead right now."

I looked away.

I had no answer to that. Partly because he was right and partly because I was so angry I wanted to cry.

Most people associated tears with sadness but for me, tears only came when I was so angry I felt I could burst.

"Some commander you are." I mutter, ice in my voice.

"What?" He growled.

"You heard me. Some commander you are. I can almost see it. You, rallying your troops to fight beside you and then abandoning them at the last minute."

Christian reached me in two long strides.

His arm gripped my elbow, his hold excruciating and I realized I might have pushed too far.

I clenched my jaw, unwilling to show any pain.

"I haven't been to battle in two decades."

I scoffed.

"That explains a lot."

"Let me finish. I haven't been to battle because for the past twenty years my entire life has been about finding you."

He released my arm and I bumped against the nightstand, the landline phone clattering to the floor beside me.

"You can walk away!"

"Trust me. I wish I could." He growled.

The muscles in his back rippled as he turned away.

He was back to his powerful and haughty self, I could see but maybe he had forgotten I'd helped keep him alive too.

That this wasn't a one-sided arrangement.

That I'd tried to heal his sorry ass.

Christian's step faltered.

"Aimee—"

"No, you don't get to do that. You don't get to be a complete dick and then apologize and expect me to brush it off like it never happened."

"I'm done fighting." He returned to his suitcase, ignoring me while he packed.

But he didn't get to be let off the hook that easily.

"Just because you're done being angry doesn't mean I am."

"We don't have time for this. Let's go before I lose my patience and simply throw you over my shoulder."

"You don't own me, Christian. You can't make me do anything."

My upper arm was suddenly clamped tight and I gasped in shock as he pulled me forward.

"No, you own me." His eyes left my face and focused on something on the carpet. "Or at least it feels that way."

"What are you talking about?"

"Find the Hybrid. Bring the Hybrid back. Do whatever it takes to get to the Hybrid. Everything in my life has been about protecting you and quite frankly I've grown sick of it."

His words were like a bucket of ice water dumped on my head.

"You know what, let go of me, I think I've heard enough!" I snapped, fighting to release his hold on me only he was so much stronger. "And stop treating me like a child!"

"Then stop behaving like one."

"Tell me, Christian, how am I supposed to react to you manhandling me?"

"With intelligence, I'd hope. But I can see that's something you lack."

My mouth opened in surprise.

Of all the things he'd called me, none had hurt as much as being called stupid.

The anger was there again, the same anger from before.

It rose up in me like a clawed demon, trying to force its way out. It went from being a bubble of darkness in my chest to an electric current over my skin.

Christian hissed as my arm scorched him where he touched me.

"Aimee, I didn't mean—"

"Stay back."

I stepped around him, the pendant on my chest and my throat on fire.

"Wait, Aimee."

"No. I don't need your help. Stay the hell away from me, you hear me?"

I spun on my heel, ready to make my exit when he was suddenly there blocking the way.

My temper flared and before I knew what was happening, a ball of dark magic left my palms and collided against his chest.

His eyes widened in shock just as the impact sent him flying out the balcony doors which shattered as he fell.

I didn't have a chance to take it back or regret it.

All I knew in that moment was that this was my only chance to get away so I made a run for it.

I heard his wings flapping just as I darted out of the room and down the hall.

I punched in the button for the elevator.

When it was clear it wasn't showing up any time soon, I shouldered the staircase door open and dashed down them, not pausing for a single second to look behind me.

After all, he didn't have any intention of helping me find my family.

He probably never had.

Maybe it had all been a ruse to get me to go with him to Henric, one that I'd stupidly fallen for.

But I'd show him.

I wasn't a delicate flower that needed protecting.

Flexing my fingertips just as I entered the casino floor, I was more determined than ever to show him how much of a bad-ass I could be.

I was powerful and I'd learn to control my powers on my own, or I'd die trying.

At this point, I had nothing left to lose and he could go straight to hell for all I cared.

Downstairs, I got to work searching for Brandon. After asking around at the bars, I finally got a tip on where I might be able to find him.

I spotted him at one of the card tables where a group was gathered around him.

He had a devilish grin plastered on his face as the dealer eyed him with wariness.

Whatever he was thinking made Brandon smile.

Hell, I'd be smiling too if the game was rigged and in my favor.

Who wouldn't win when they could read their opponent's mind?

Brandon's head jerked up and his gaze found me across the room as if he'd sensed me thinking about him.

His face split into a grin as he motioned me over.

Ducking my face down as to not attract attention, I walked over to where he was seated.

"Aimee, I thought you and Christian would be on your way by now."

He said something to the dealer, called out some poker lingo I didn't understand.

The dealer flipped over a card.

The crowd of admirers gathered around him, mostly women, cheered with excitement and one woman eyed my spot next to Brandon with envy.

"There's been a change of plans. Can you tell me where I can find the Verlacs?"

"Err, shouldn't you be with Christian?"

"Christian's an asshole. I'll trade you a secret for the information." I hissed.

Brandon pursed his lips.

The prospect of a secret had his eyes lighting up, I could tell yet he still hesitated.

I watched him, the anticipation killing me. At any moment Christian could show up and drag me back with him.

If he'd try to forcibly make me go with him, I knew I didn't stand a chance of winning.

My powers were too new, too undisciplined to cause him any real harm and I suspected he knew this.

"If I'm going to go behind my cousin's back, it better be a good secret."

Floored, I sat back in the chair as Brandon continued with his game of poker.

A woman took a drag of a cigarette beside me, the smoke wafting across my face.

I hadn't prepared for him to say yes.

I sifted through my head, trying to find a secret worthy of his standards.

Finally, I realized my secret wasn't so much a secret as something I'd never admit out loud.

So that would have to do.

"I was worried about Christian. That he'd die, because of me." I admitted.

"So you care about him?"

"No." I muttered. "I was just worried."

"This agreement only works if you're honest with me little hybrid."

I wiped my hands against my pants and looked away.

"Fine. I cared about what happened to him but not about him."

Brandon's lips quirked up at the sides, not convinced.

Even if I had come to care about Christian it was as a friend and now that he refused to help me find my family, not even that.

Brandon patted my knee and said, "Watch this."

The brief point of contact had his aura lighting up.

The same haze surrounded his aura as before. It took one glance in front of him to find a series of empty shot glass, confirming that Brandon was drunk again.

He released the dice in his hands and whatever it landed on made the crowd cheer and the dealer sigh.

"I won." He said. "And so did you. I'll tell you where the Verlac's live."