you wouldn't be the first renegade to need somebody
Relief washed over Flora like a tidal wave at the sight of Jack. Had he not been barred from her thoughts, he might have felt the force of it, strong enough to sweep him away. "Jack, he's—" a member of the Family, she thought, the urge to reach for him almost overwhelming, only halted by the flash of anger in his eyes and the utter nothing that followed.
Pierce's approach was casual, almost bored, as if Flora's presence, her very efforts, were of no consequence to him. His disregard had ice freezing over the warm rush of relief she'd felt, numbing her fingers and toes, leaving them tingling with pins and needles.
Flora had never heard Jack growl her name in that way before—not in the heights of passion, not even during their worst arguments. It sent a shock through her, instinct pulling her to obey, though her body felt sluggish and too slow to react. Pierce was already there, his blade catching her on the arm, slicing cleanly down her bicep. The pain flared hot and sharp, but it was the terror welling within her that gripped her more fiercely, tightening her chest until it hurt to breathe. Her cry was quieter this time, a choked sound that barely escaped her lips, the fear eclipsing everything else, leaving her feeling smaller and closer to death than she'd ever been despite how comparatively minor her injuries were.
Pierce's approach was casual, almost bored, as if Flora's presence, her very efforts, were of no consequence to him. His disregard had ice freezing over the warm rush of relief she'd felt, numbing her fingers and toes, leaving them tingling with pins and needles.
Flora had never heard Jack growl her name in that way before—not in the heights of passion, not even during their worst arguments. It sent a shock through her, instinct pulling her to obey, though her body felt sluggish and too slow to react. Pierce was already there, his blade catching her on the arm, slicing cleanly down her bicep. The pain flared hot and sharp, but it was the terror welling within her that gripped her more fiercely, tightening her chest until it hurt to breathe. Her cry was quieter this time, a choked sound that barely escaped her lips, the fear eclipsing everything else, leaving her feeling smaller and closer to death than she'd ever been despite how comparatively minor her injuries were.
