How to live.
And now, here I am, ghosting him like an ungrateful shit.
“Big man, you know—” I start, planning some joke about needing space for emotional growth or whatever—
“Kacey has agreed to meet with the dragon shifter.”
I stare at him, raising a single brow. “Andddd…?” Why would I give a flying fuck about that?
“And Jasmine will be with her.”
Oh.
Her name hits like a sledgehammer to the ribs. So fucking hard and painful, I tighten my fists with a wince. That name… it’s a trigger. A beautiful, horrible burn in the middle of my chest.
I rub at it, like that’ll help. I don’t even need to drop my mental wall to know Julien feels it too.
“Get to the point, big guy,” I rasp, but my next breaths sting.
He smiles then, but it’s small, a little too forced. “One of us shall accompany them.”
My markings flare hot and wild as I shove him hard, right in the chest plate. He stumbles a step, if that. Big, sturdy bastard. Anyone else would’ve gone flying.
“You teasing fucker!” I snap, then scoff. “You couldn’t have led with that? You should’ve—”
I stop, because his smile’s gone, and something in his eyes says this isn’t good news.
Julien doesn’t hesitate. But right now, he is.
What the hell could be wrong with this? This is it. This is our chance to get our girl back! So why is he looking at me like… that?
“What aren’t you telling me, mate?” I ask flatly, and my markings pulse in warning. My patience isn’t just wearing thin, it’s gone.
“Ezekial let her choose who.”
Ah. Right. So not me, obviously.
“Let me guess: Zeek, right?” I nod sharply, rubbing my face as I try to swallow it down.
Zeek. Of course. The soft bastard everyone trusts. Of course she’d pick Zeek. And though I loathe to admit it, he’s our best choice.
Handling tense, high-stakes situations? Check. Convincing people to see his side even when the odds are highly stacked against him? Big check. Zeek isn’t just the best option—he’s the only option.
Still stings, though.
And… Julien hasn’t said anything. Why isn’t he answering? Why are his eyes a little tight… Actually, his whole face looks… sour.
“She chose Kane.”
She… what?
Kane?
She choseKane.
And that…
That’s it.
