Thirteen.

Aria’s POV

He remained in his spot, staring at me with his black eyes as I rolled about on the cold floor.

“Why are you doing this to yourself?” His tone was low. Annoyed by my refusal to accept that I needed his help.

“I have already told you to go away.” I press my chest into the floor, sprawling out on my stomach and let out a groan.

“I’m not going anywhere, Aria. If you want to punish yourself, that is up to you.”

He continues to watch me squirm, a smug smile on his face.

“Fuck off.”

“You certainly get antsy when things don’t go your way.”

“Why are you trying to test me right now?”

“No test.” He walks over and crouches down next to me, holding himself inches away from me. Tala was practically screaming in my head. She was desperate for the fire to stop, for us to be subdued by the one thing that could help, but I wasn’t giving in. I don’t care how much it hurts, I was not giving in.

“Aria, it doesn’t have to be this way.”

I force myself towards the bathtub, crawling along the floo