Free Chrysalis: The Emergence of Emery (The Gifted Series Book 1) by Maria Macdonald Page B

jacket.
    “Em, what the hell are you talking about?” I can hear the confusion in his voice, and I can feel the uncertainty tinged with worry inside him.
    “I left that house to get away from Kade. I need to sort out my own head, make my own decisions. You had no right to tell him where I was. Now I’m leaving. Alone this time.”
    “I don’t think so, Em.” Elijah steps in front of me, crossing his arms and working his jaw.
    “You don’t get this, Elijah. I’m leaving, you don’t control me, or command me, you can’t bend me to your will.” When he doesn’t move, I sigh. “Listen, I’m pissed. What you did, telling Kade? You betrayed my trust. Now I just need some space. I know you want to protect me, but that doesn’t mean you can leave me out of the decision-making process, especially when it’s my life we’re talking about. With that said, I am coming back. I want to have a family… I want to have you. It’s all just a little bit too much, and I need a couple of hours to myself.”
    Elijah stares at me, his jaw still working but it’s tense. Then he pins me with his eyes. “I’m sorry, again, Emery,” he tells me before leaning forward and pressing his thumb to my forehead. I expect to fall and for Elijah to catch me. I expect that I’ll sleep, waking even more pissed. But I don’t. Before I realize what’s happening Elijah is falling. I catch him at the last moment and surprise blasts through me when I can lift him—although it is a struggle—onto the sofa. I watch for a few minutes as his chest moves up and down, his breathing even and calm. Then I grab my bag and haul ass out of the hotel.
     

     
    As I sit sipping my diet coke and people watching, I second guess my decision to leave the hotel. I’m not in danger as I’m in public, and it’s a highly built up area. Still, I feel guilty at leaving Elijah like that. But at the same time, I’m also aggravated that he thinks he can control my life. I know he’s trying to keep me safe, but he can’t do that forever. Withholding information isn’t the way to help me either. If he didn’t hold back so much then maybe my understanding would be greater.
    I know that he’s right, that he can’t tell me everything in one go, but it took him so long to even start to explain. On top of that, I’m now getting powers I don’t understand, having feelings I can’t explain, and I’m trying to decide how best to navigate my life. Including whether to leave the other half of my soul behind, which, from what I understand, means I’ll live some kind of half-life for the rest of my days.
    I let out a heavy sigh, my chest sagging and decide it’s time to leave. Leaning down to grab my bag, I jump slightly when I see Zeit has taken a seat in the chair opposite me.
    “Emery…” he drawls the word out while leering at me.
    “Zeit,” I return, keeping my tone even.
    “Ahh, you remember me then? Glad to see I made an impression on my cousin.” He clicks his fingers in the air and a waiter appears beside him.
    “Yes, s-sir.” The waiter stutters, even he can feel the darkness that rolls off him. I watch as Zeit’s eyes sparkle amused with the fear he’s summoned in the clueless waiter. Strangely, I don’t feel scared. If anything I’m perturbed. I wanted to have a quiet afternoon, hash some things out in my own head. The last person I needed to see was him.
    “Get me a latte. My cousin here will have a diet coke,” he snaps.
    “No, I won’t. Thank you anyway,” I say to the waiter who scurries away.
    Zeit brings his hands to the table and arches his fingers together. “So how much has Elijah told you so far?”
    “Enough,” I reply, trying to think of a way I can get him away from the people around us.
    “Hmm… I don’t think he has. Father told me you had no clue who he was. I think your big brother has been keeping you in the dark, Emery. You do realize the dark is the best place for you to be, right? You could come and join us