“No!” He’s on his feet now, naked and devastated and so fucking beautiful it hurts. “That is not— You are not—”
“Then who is she?” I demand. “The woman you dream about? The one you thought I was when you kissed me yesterday?”
He opens his mouth. Closes it. “I do not know.”
“Bullshit.”
“I don’t.” Desperation bleeds through his voice. “I cannot remember her. I only know—” He stops. Jaw works. His mind clearly working. “I know I lost her. That she is gone. And that some part of me still—”
“Still loves her.” I spit the words out. “Yeah. I got that.”
“Mara, please—”
I’m already moving. Pulling on my pants, lacing my boots.
“Where are you going?” Panic edges into his tone. “It is not safe—”
“I don’t care.” I yank open the door. Cold night air rushes in. “I need space. I need to not be here right now.”
“Mara, wait—”
But I’m already running.
Out into the darkness. Away from the dwelling and K’s stricken face and the name that keeps echoing in my skull.
Lyria. Lyria. Lyria.
I’m such an idiot.
Of course he was thinking of someone else. Of course I was just a replacement. A convenient body to project his lost love onto.
Story of my fucking life.
Always temporary. Always second choice. Always the one people settle for when they can’t have who they really want.
Tears blur my vision as I run through the darkened village. I don’t know where I’m going. Don’t care.
Just need distance. Space. Air that doesn’t smell like sex and broken promises.
And yet, each step away from him feels like I’m pulling against an invisible chain. Stupid body doesn’t want to believe what my mind is now processing. I want to go back.
Don’t be a fool!
I hit the tree line at full speed, branches whipping at my face and arms. The path is barely visible in the moonlight, but I don’t slow down.
Can’t slow down.
If I stop moving, I’ll have to feel this. And feeling this might actually kill me.
A branch catches my foot. I stumble, catch myself against a tree trunk.
That’s when I hear it.
Voices. Low and professional. Speaking English with American accents.
My blood freezes.
I stop short, pressing myself against the tree. Barely breathing.
