“I still hate you” I spat as he threw another log into the fire in front of us.

“As you’ve mentioned about five times now” he said sarcastically.

Slowly he walked up to me and adjusted the rope around my wrists until I could reach my food without any issues. Then he walked to the other side of the fire and sat down. The silence between us was painful, but well deserved. I listened to the fire crackle as I ate and I watched the light from the moon reflect from the waters of the pond.

As time passed I looked over to find Dex watching me with soft eyes.

“Stop looking at me like that, you lost that when you chose my father’s side over mine” I snapped angrily at him again.

“You know the decision was made based off of keeping you safe” he pointed at me with a stick he had been twirling.

“Oh don’t give me that, you know well enough that I can protect myself. You’ve seen it a thousand times”

“Dammit Wynn” he spoke angrily this time, “ I know damn well you can take care of yourself, but I refuse to take the the chance that Dahlia might be much more powerful than you. This is the only way that I can protect you.”

“I’m not asking you to protect me! I just-“

“Wynn” Dex said cutting me off as he spoke softer than before. He walked over to me and dropped to his knees.

He grabbed both sides of my face and tilted my head up to look at him.

“I can’t lose you. This is the only way that I can keep you alive and safe. Your father and I agreed to lock you away because if you died, we can’t live without you” he said hopelessly.

“Can’t you hear the problem with that! You are locking me away because of a what if! Please, let’s just go home” I cried.

“No” he said sternly.

It was then I knew that I had lost Dex. He was so focused on protecting me, that he was forgetting that I needed to live as a human being. This was the side of Dex that I couldn’t be with.

Quickly I leaned forward and kissed him catching him off guard.

Pulling back I rested my forehead against his as lies fell from my lips, “I’ll go. You and my father made a great plan.”

“I’m so glad to hear you say that” he smiled while pulling me in for another kiss.

Again I pulled away from him and looked into his eyes.

“Can you lay with me tonight? So I can remember the way you held me while I’m alone for the next few years?” I pleaded.

“Of course” he beamed.

I laid down on the crunchy leaves beneath me as he spooned me from behind. His arm laid across my waist and I looked up at the night sky praying that my plan would work.

Soon I could hear his soft snores and feel his breath brushing against my neck. Slowly I turned on my back and laid still hoping my movement didn’t stir him awake. My eyes fell to the knife in his pocket and I lifted my tied hands gently to grab the shiny object. After a few precise tugs the knife was free and in my hands. Quickly I cut the rope and slipped the knife in my back pocket. With slow and gentle movements, I picked up his arm and set it across his stomach. Carefully I stood up making sure not to crunch the leaves beneath my feet.

I turned back to look at Dex as he still peacefully slept on the floor.

“I love you, but this is my fight” I whispered.

I turned back around and headed straight into the deep forrest. Once I was far enough away I broke out into a sprint because I didn’t know how long I had until he realized I was gone.