Chapter 53

** Paige’s POV ** I tug my cardigan tighter around myself even though the morning air isn’t cold. My nerves are the actual cause of the chill I’m feeling, as I watch Remy’s shoulders tense and relax like he’s fighting himself. He’s stopped us in a small clearing where the sunlight shines through, highlighting the beauty of the place. A fallen tree rests in the centre, its bark thick with green moss. The top is worn smooth as though it’s been sat on frequently. Remy doesn’t sit. He doesn’t even move. He just stands rigid in the stillness, fists clenched at his sides, as if the weight pressing down on him might break him. I swallow, my voice low. “Remy… you’re scaring me a little.” That makes him turn. His green eyes are so raw they nearly steal the breath from my lungs. “I don’t want to scare you. That’s the last thing I want.” “Then talk to me,” I whisper. “Please.” For a moment, he only stares, jaw tight, chest rising and falling like he’s forcing air into his lungs. “I’ve been trying