Insurrection
Page 18
He inclined his head to her. “Don’t worry. You’re not the only one who thinks Crow’s an ass.”
Those words both startled and amused her. “Pardon?”
“I said you’re not the only one who can’t stand the smug, sanctimonious prick.” He changed his features so that he appeared to be as Maten as she did.
And not just any Maten. This was one she knew all too well. One she’d never expected to see again.
“Frayne?”
His features dark, he narrowed his gaze on her. “You’re not the only one with secrets, Daria. And there’s a lot of things Xed didn’t tell you.” He brushed his hand over her cheek, causing her heart to race and her skin to burn with a memory of how much he meant to her. How much they’d shared. “I swear, I never meant for you or your parents to get caught up in any of this.”
Her head spun at what she was seeing. What she was hearing.
What she still felt for him.
Was this for real?
Was it really him?
“You’re a Shif?”
He nodded, then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “And if you can forgive me and trust me again, I swear I can get your parents back. But first you have to decide whose side you’re really on.… Ours or theirs.”
Those words both startled and amused her. “Pardon?”
“I said you’re not the only one who can’t stand the smug, sanctimonious prick.” He changed his features so that he appeared to be as Maten as she did.
And not just any Maten. This was one she knew all too well. One she’d never expected to see again.
“Frayne?”
His features dark, he narrowed his gaze on her. “You’re not the only one with secrets, Daria. And there’s a lot of things Xed didn’t tell you.” He brushed his hand over her cheek, causing her heart to race and her skin to burn with a memory of how much he meant to her. How much they’d shared. “I swear, I never meant for you or your parents to get caught up in any of this.”
Her head spun at what she was seeing. What she was hearing.
What she still felt for him.
Was this for real?
Was it really him?
“You’re a Shif?”
He nodded, then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “And if you can forgive me and trust me again, I swear I can get your parents back. But first you have to decide whose side you’re really on.… Ours or theirs.”
