Sticks and Stones

Chapter Forty-Two

In all the years she'd known Caspian, she'd never seen him quite as menacing as he was now. His body was hot and quaking, those usually warm fire runes were a scarlet shade of red. His horns were straightening, his face set with such malice as she'd never known.

His wrist where the bangle sat heated until it was boiling. Until steam and fire left his body. And yet still the bangle remained. Unless Sofia took it off him herself, then that bangle would stay exactly where she'd put it.

And God did Caspian have something to say about it.

When he took a step closer, she took a step back.

"Take this off me."

Keep your chin high Sof. Caspian needed to know she wouldn't compromise on this.

"Take me with you," Sofia demanded.

"No."

Cas wasn't having it. Which was exactly why she didn't feel guilty about any of this. This was necessary. This was her insurance policy that Cas would come back alive.

She squared her shoulders and looked him dead in the eyes. "Then I guess the bangle stays."

"I'm not playing with you Sofia—take it off."

He was close enough that she felt his breath fanning against her face. Any closer and he might just burn her.

Stay strong Sof.

"The bangle stays."

His eyes flared with danger.

"Last warning Sofia. Take it off."

"Are you going to take me with you?"

This was his last chance. Last opportunity to change his mind. And if he didn't, then all logical reason would fly straight out of the window.

"There's not a chance in hell."

Fine. I can work with that.

"Then it looks like you won't get a choice."

He backed her up to the wall. Between them there was next to no space. Her chest was pressed against his. Good lord, she could feel the angry heat emanating from him.

Changes nothing.

Cas had pushed her to this point. Now they'd just have to deal with it.

"Take it off me." When she tilted her head to avoid him, his head tilted with her. "Right now Sofia. Take it off."

What was his goal here? Scaring her into submission? Backing her up and leaving her with no choice?

It didn't matter.

When Caspian got the call summoning him to his duty, he wouldn't have time to argue this with her any further. She'd be going with him whether he liked it or not.

"Just—just think about what you're doing here."

He sounded disappointed. Desperate. Multiple things she wasn't used to hearing from him anymore—but there was a reason she was doing all of this.

"I have thought about it."

Nothing you say is going to change my mind.

"And you still think this is a good idea?"

It was a terrible idea, really. A horrendous one. But she'd do it. No matter the cost, she'd do it.

She swallowed, declaring, "Hate me for it all you want—if you even have the emotional capacity to hate me right now—but I'm not letting you do this on your own. I can't let that happen."