Tamed: A Huntress Spin-off Novel by Adria Wade

total shit.”
    He shook his head. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me. Do you want to talk about it?”
    What was there to talk about? I was a wreck because I lost yet another friend. I watched her bleed out all over the booth as she lied there, helpless and afraid. I couldn’t save her, just like I couldn’t save Tessa, and that killed me.
    I looked down as sorrow washed over me, pulling me under like the current in the ocean. I didn’t want to feel this pain. It became apparent to me that death would always surround me. As much as I tried to hold myself together, I couldn’t keep the tears from flooding my eyes.
    “No, I don’t want to talk about it.”
    Teardrops fell from my eyes and onto my legs.
    “It helps to talk about what’s bothering you. Bottling things up is never good.”
    “I didn’t save her.” The amount of sorrow that poured out of my voice only showed an inkling of how deep my emotions ran.
    “You couldn’t save her. You aren’t the huntress. You don’t have the kind of power and skills needed to survive a vampire attack.”
    I sniffled and bowed my head as tears soaked my warm cheeks. “This is crazy. This isn’t supposed to be happening. None of this is supposed to be real.”
    “Paige, it’s going to be okay.”
    I shook my head. It wasn’t going to be okay.
    He cupped my chin, and as our eyes locked, there was an overwhelming desire, an urge to kiss him, and I knew he felt it as well. He looked at me, entranced and unable to look away. My breath hitched as he ran his thumb over my bottom lip. I liked his touch. He was going to kiss me, and, as much as I wanted him to, I couldn’t let it happen. I couldn’t bring him into my messed up world. As he leaned in even more, I could already taste his lips, and it killed me to pull away from him.
    “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
    His brows furrowed as he shook his head, confused.
    I knew I was giving mixed signals. I didn’t mean to. It was just so easy to get lost in him. I normally wouldn’t mind bringing guys into my circle, but it was different with him. Those guys were just party friends. Sex did sometimes happen between us, but I never let them in. They knew next to nothing about me. All of the important stuff was never brought up, and that was how I liked it. I actually felt something for Eli. I showed him the hurt that I carried with me all the time. I liked him, and he had no problem showing interest in me. Because of that, though, he was in dangerous waters with me.
    “So you kiss me earlier then push me away when I try to kiss you.”
    “I was trying to piss my brother off.”
    “You wanted to kiss me, though. It wasn’t all about your brother.” I could hear the anger seep out as he spoke.
    Okay, so I did, but I wouldn’t have kissed him if it wasn’t for Taylor.
    “I am really sorry.” It’s for your own good.
    “You don’t do the love thing.” He was repeating my words from earlier.
    The disappointment on his face was enough to make my heart soar into my stomach. I looked away, not able to see the hurt I was already causing.
    “Hey.”
    I looked up as a gorgeous, white blonde woman, sporting a bob with bangs, walked toward us. She was the kind of girl you just couldn’t resist looking at. She was the definition of beauty; soft, glowing skin, a beautiful smile, and curves in all of the right places. A man with a sun kissed tan and medium-length, dark brown hair followed behind her, while the other two—a guy with dark brown hair, and warm green eyes and a petite, cute woman with violet hair and pale skin—stood by the doorway.
    “Hi,” Eli said, his voice low and sad.
    Her smile faded as she knitted her brows together. “Is everything okay?”
    “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” He turned his attention on me. “This is Paige, Taylor’s sister. Paige this is Athena, Lucas, and the other two airheads standing by the doorway are Violet and Hunter.”
    Hunter and Violet gave him a smirk.
    Athena folded