See How She Fights by Michelle Graves Read Free Book Online Page A

hastily
trying to wipe away the evidence of my pity party.
    “So what are you going to do about
it?” he asked in his rich brogue as he lifted the brow over his good eye.
    “I have no idea. But wallowing
seems like a good plan for now,” I said, lowering my head into my hands. I was
shocked by the sudden presence of a warm hand resting against my back. I looked
back up to find Conall staring at me thoughtfully. “Um, what are you doing?”
    “Trying to comfort you,” he smiled
devilishly. He was dangerous for so many reasons. None of which I was
interested in. I might have been mad at Kennan but it didn’t change how I felt.
    “Um, do you think you could stop?”
    “Your every wish is my command.”
    “How did you lose your eye?” I
blurted hoping to change the subject.
    “You are not at all how you are
supposed to be,” he laughed.
    “No, I suppose not. But if you
wouldn’t mind telling me, I could really use the distraction.”
    “It’s really rude to just ask
someone how they lost a part of their body. You know that, right?” I could tell
by his tone that I had not offended him. From everything I could tell it would
take a lot more than that to do the trick.
    “I have never been known for my
tact. I’m surprised your mom didn’t tell you more about me if I’m supposed to
be taking over,” I groused. A look of pain flashed over his face for the briefest
of seconds. Before I knew it, he was back to his cavalier self.  “If you don’t
want to tell me, you don’t have to. I could just sift it from your memories.
Then again, prying is rude.”
    “I would rather you not sift my
memories if it is all the same to you. There are things there that you aren’t
meant to know yet, events that have come to pass and those yet to be.” He
paused for a moment allowing the weight of his words to sink in. “I will tell
you how I lost my eye. It happened at the same time father got his scar.”  
    “Izzy?” I heard Kennan call from
just around the bend.
    “Looks like the story must wait for
another time. Until we meet again, fair Izzy.” Conall stood and gallantly
bowed. Oh brother.
    “Conall,” Kennan said, part threat,
part greeting.
    “Brother,” Conall said with a nod
as he disappeared into the maze of shrubbery.
    “I really don’t want to talk to you
right now, Kennan,” I said, looking back down to my feet.
    “But you will talk to him?” he
asked with anger.
    “Don’t you dare treat me like the bad
guy here. I’m not the one keeping secrets. I came out here to be alone. I did
not ask Conall to sit down and I didn’t ask you to come out here. In fact, I
would have rather you stayed up in the room. To be quite honest I don’t know
when I will get over this, Kennan. You have to stop treating me like I can’t
handle the truth. You can’t protect me from this world any longer. I am a part
of it. So, yeah, I get that you are sorry. I get that you want to make up. But,
to be frank, I think you are sorrier that you got caught than you are for
keeping me in the dark,” I sputtered, never making eye contact.
    Kennan lowered himself in front of
me and tilted my chin so that I was looking in his eyes. “You don’t know
everything. I am sorry that I didn’t tell you. I promised I would not lie to
you again. I did so by omission. You may be mad at me, Izzy. You can give me
the silent treatment if it makes you feel better. But know this, I’m not going
anywhere. There are still people here that cannot be trusted. You might not
believe me, but I love you. I’m sorry I gave you reason to doubt your trust in
me.” He pleaded with his eyes.
    “I walked in here blind, Kennan,” I
said as I got up and moved away from his warmth. I didn’t want his apologies
right now. I needed the company of my righteous anger.
    “Izzy,” he said, pleading with me.
    “Please, Kennan. I just need some
time to sort this out. I need time to be mad at you. I love you, but right now
I don’t like you all that