Mybrain was turning to mush, but a sudden surge of irritation grounded me. It wasn’t entirely mine, I realized as I looked back to Aiden, whose ears had gone a little pink.
“The Prince himself?” Aiden asked slowly, to keep his voice even.
Coach nodded, though his expression held a bit of understanding that didn’t make sense to me. He was looking at the two of us as if he knew more than he was letting on, especially in reference to Rafe.
And I didn’t like that, not one bit.
Especially not after last night.
“Change out, and then we’ll start training.” Coach said.
Once inside the locker room, I was met with more irritation. Most of the girls had changed and were already back in the gym. I made my way to my locker, the same as last term, and a flash of blonde hair bumped into me.
Carla Martin looked like a deer caught in headlights as she realized who she’d bumped into. She lurched back away from me as if I were about to attack her, which was weird, but I didn’t exactly mind.
I didn’thateCarla. I wasn’t being performative with Willow the other day. Aiden being a dumbass wasn’t Carla’s fault, and I didn’tblame her for it. She’d said some bitchy things to me, but I sort of understood it.
I got a good look at her for the first time since last term, though.
And…she looked like shit.
Dark bags marred the skin under her eyes. Her lips were dry and cracked, looking like she’d been chewing at them. There were some open sores just at the lining of her collar, and she awkwardly shifted her shirt to hide them.
“Sorry,” she croaked before darting around me.
She kept her head down as she dove out the locker room door, and I just stared, dumbfounded. That was…weird. And very different from our other encounters, where she’d looked perfectly put together.
I remembered what had me so irritated as I changed, so I decided to confront Rafe.
Rafe,I called out to him.
He answered me in his usual seductive purr.Hello, darling. Miss me already?
I did, but I was mad at him.Coach says Landon died from a telepathic injury. Says you knew because the Palace Healer showed you. When were you planning on sharing that bit of information with me?
The answering silence stretched so long I almost gave up. I was getting angrier the longer he took to reply, riling myself up while I spiraled.
I wasn’t keeping it from you,Rafe said, and it sounded reassuring.With everything that happened in the islands, I hadn’t found a good time to mention it. I’m also confused by what I saw. I watched the whole thing between the two of you, and yet I saw the telepathic injury for myself. Was someone else in there with you?
I slipped on my gym shirt and fought off sudden tears.
Yeah,I replied quietly.They didn’t sense me, though.
Interesting,Rafe replied smoothly, not even the slightest bit annoyed that I’d kept this from him. Was I an idiot, or was I just determined to be pissed off at this man forever? He’d kept things from me, but I’d also kept things from him.Strong enough to control him like a puppet, not strong enough to sense my elusive little Key. This is good information, love.
I blinked at how easily Rafe had changed the mood. My anger toward him melted away.
Would you recognize this presence if you felt it again?
Yes,I replied easily.
After a few beats of silence, I blew out a breath.
Sorry,I said, feeling a little sheepish.After last night, I thought things had changed.
Yell at me anytime, my love, I don’t mind. I encourage it. Thingshavechanged.
I shivered slightly, shaking my head to dispel the sudden horny thoughts. After a beat of silence, Rafe spoke again.
