Chapter 92

Sloane

The healer said I could walk.

Malachi disagreed.

That was why I was standing.

Mostly.

My injured leg shook when I put full weight on it, but I refused to sit back down.

Malachi stood across the room with his arms folded.

“You’re going to fall.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Very encouraging.”

“You wanted honesty.”

“I wanted freedom.”

“You’re confusing the two.”

I took another step.

Pain pulled from my calf into my thigh.

I ignored it.

Then another.

The cabin had become unbearable.

Same room.

Same bed.

Same window.

Same view of pine trees and the road beyond them.

I had spent days measuring distances.

Door to porch.

Porch to road.

Road to trees.

Not because I had a plan.

Because I needed to know.

Malachi watched me.

Always.

Even when he pretended not to.

I reached the doorway.

He mo