"Then what is?" Jaden asked. "How do I fix this?"
There was a pause, and when Clara spoke again, her voice had changed. It was softer, more gentle.
"Maybe we could talk," she said. "Really talk, without the chains and the threats."
My heart sank. Was Clara actually considering giving Jaden another chance?
"You mean that?" Jaden asked, hope clear in his voice.
"I've missed being home," Clara said carefully. "I've missed... some things about being here."
"Clara," Jaden breathed.
"But if we're going to do this, we need to do it right," Clara continued. "I can't mate with you in some dirty storage building. I need time to process everything, and I need a proper place to stay."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Clara was playing Jaden, using his emotions to get what she wanted.
An
