Stop (Cold Mark Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

made me want to rub his back to let him know everything would be all right. Eventually. “I was thinking…maybe…Well, I thought we could start fresh. A…a new beginning.”
    Malik quickly added, “If you’ll allow it.”
    I blinked. “And if I don’t?” Would they throw me in a vault somewhere?
    Little dots of sweat began to appear on Leo’s forehead, but his strong tenor was returning. “Then it is your choice. No Soul must stay with their Vaq. As is our law.”
    Malik grunted quietly, tilting his head, examining my face. “Is there a reason why you wouldn’t give us another shot? Even a hundred more since you know we’re made for each other?”
    I thought it prudent not to answer the question. For many reasons. Instead, I stated, “I am your Soul, so yes, we are bound no matter what.” I flicked a finger between the two of them. “I’ve missed you both so very much, but I’ll be honest. I hate how I feel I have no freedom. I thought I’d be able to handle it, to help Joyal and its citizens, but I’ve found, without my freedom, I push even harder for it. Possibly even more recklessly for it.” I tilted my chin up in stubbornness. “If I do this, if we start over, you’ll have to give me space to be myself. To be free. While still getting to know each other again.” As long as I was here and not escaping with Jax for true freedom from the Mian. Damn, my life was complicated.
    Neither made a peep, eyeing me.
    “What?”
    Leo’s golden brows rose. “You’re being evasive.”
    Am not. Probably am. “Can you blame me?”
    “More evasion.” Malik rested back, at ease. He raised his arms to the top of the couch, ticking his fingers where they rested on the red leather as he evaluated me. Eventually, in the quiet, his silver gaze never having left mine, he asked, “Has something intimate happened between you and the other Plumas?”
    Well, fuck. “No.”
    Leo took his turn to lean back, spreading his legs wide and placing his hands behind his head. Relaxed and aloof while his golden gaze honed directly on me. “No?”
    Instant. Easy. “No.” Maybe one day I would tell them. Maybe. If I was still here.
    Leo hummed.
    Malik grunted softly.
    I didn’t fidget, but I wanted to. After all, this was a lie. For the exact reason I had admonished them. Though, to be perfectly fair, it had been clear my Vaq and I were not ‘together’ when I had left Belvar. When they had lied, it hadn’t been so obvious. Truly, I wasn’t sure if they even needed to know about the private kiss shared by the Plumas of the east and myself…and them wanting me to figure out my feelings for my Vaq. I barely choked out, “What?”
    And the fact I didn’t mind being around Killeg and Phila too much. Enjoyed it, really.
    I actually liked flirting with them.
    And kissing them.
    They had seemed to like it, too.
    Wait. As an afterthought, perhaps my Vaq should know one day, so they weren’t surprised with a sword in the back—if I chose them.
    Bless Mother Joyal, I had no clue how I had gotten myself into this much trouble.
    “Nothing,” Malik murmured.
    “Okay…” I glanced between them, silent on the couch. “So we’re good? We’ll start fresh?”
    “Of course,” Leo answered.
    If I weren’t careful, I would start to sweat as Leo had done earlier. “Okay.”
    Malik nodded. “Okay.”
    My giggle might have been a smidge hysterical as I threw my hands in the air in mini-celebration. “Okays all around then!” I peered to the door in a hurry as they stared. “Where’s my room at again?” I could use a break.

I was a mess. An absolute damned mess. After Malik and Leo had silently shown me to my room, I hadn’t been able to sleep but an hour or two during the day. My stomach was growling at me since I hadn’t been able to finish my dinner last night, but I wasn’t sure if I could keep anything down. At least Malik and Leo had brought my clothing with them so I was able to wear an ensemble that actually fit