Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,66

by surprise. “Am not.” He raised his hands in surrender.

It made sense. “Ever since Devin rescued me, you’ve done nothing but blame yourself for my capture. You’re consumed with guilt, and that emotion has only increased your desire to protect me. Your shield magic has completely blocked me from accessing mine without even touching me.”

Liam’s shoulders dropped. “I didn’t know. I can’t control it.”

“And yet, you expect me to control mine.” I smirked. “Well, you can drop it now,” I said softly, and placed my hand on his arm, feeling his muscles tremble beneath my touch.

Liam’s brows knit together, and he tried to concentrate. “How?”

“I don’t know.” I tried to think of a way to teach him control when he’d never been trained. I bent down and picked up a river stone. I placed it in his palm and clasped his hand around it. “Hold this stone and squeeze it tight. Now slowly, one by one, open your fingers and let the stone slide out of your palm”.

Liam followed my instructions, and we both watched the gray rock fall and hit the ground with a thud.

“Good.” I scooped up the stone and had him repeat the exercise.

“Do it again. But this time, visualize that it’s me. I’m the stone.”

His fingers squeezed so hard his knuckles turned white. His lips turned down and his brows furrowed.

“Let me go,” I whispered.

His fist trembled, and he gazed at me. “No, I can’t. You’ll get hurt.”

“That’s part of life. You can’t protect me forever.”

Liam didn’t like that answer. “I can try.”

This was getting us nowhere. He was refusing to drop his shield magic, and I was useless being this close to him.

“It’s not your job to protect me,” I said.

“I promised I’d watch over you.”

A prickly feeling ran up my spine, and I turned and looked among the men, my gut telling me we were in danger. But from what?

Devin had been a silent observer during our entire exchange. He picked up my nervous energy and moved to my side, giving me a curious look.

I scanned the dense fog. The feeling wasn’t leaving, instead it was a growing discomfort in my gut that I couldn’t ignore. We were in danger, but I couldn’t sense it. “Liam, I need you to back off,” I said.

His eyes darkened. “You can’t tell me what to—”

Panicked, I yelled at him. “I don’t want you.”

He stepped back, his brows furrowed, and I saw the stubborn line in his jaw. He wasn’t going to let go, or he didn’t know how, and I was desperate.

I’m sorry, Liam, I cried out mentally. I reached out for Devin’s hand and took it in mine. Turning toward him, I went on my tiptoes, my hands wrapping around Devin’s neck, pulling myself close. Not sure what to do or how to act, I just hoped that he’d meet me halfway. I pressed my lips to his awkwardly.

I felt a mental slap as Liam’s anger grew, and his magic pressed into my mind. I caught Devin by surprise. His hands rested on my hips and he kept the kiss chaste, not willing to kiss me in front of his friend.

But chaste wouldn’t get Liam to get angry enough to hate me and drop the shield. I pulled Devin closer, and he must have read my desperation. His lips moved against mine, his hands lifted and wrapped around my back, crushing me to him. He deepened the kiss, and I gave a squeak of surprise that sounded like a moan. He lifted me into the air, my feet dangling as he kissed me. I didn’t enjoy it. Instead, the mental power that I felt pressing against me changed. It turned cold. I shivered, and Devin slowly released me, letting my body drag against his as my feet found purchase on the ground.

I didn’t dare to look at Liam. I was too ashamed to even make eye contact.

“Is this true?” Liam asked.

I reached for Devin’s hand, and he entwined our fingers together. “Yes. I choose Devin.” The lie soured my stomach.

I felt the moment Liam’s shield dropped, and the sheer power that had been smothering me was amazing. Immediately, I gasped and stumbled. Devin supported me as Liam’s intense feelings came my way.

Red flashed in my mind, and I felt my knees go weak. Liam was livid, and then I felt his immense pain at being rejected. Devin’s arms held me close, keeping me upright as I battled with the onslaught of images, thoughts, and feelings that