“I didn’t.” Heat rushed up my neck, into my face. “Fuck you.”
“Already said that.” His jaw tightened. “Getting repetitive.”
“Okay, let’s all just—” Darian started, but I rounded on him.
“Stay out of it.”
“I’m really thinking I shouldn’t,” Darian said, hands raised. “Because you two are about thirty seconds from doing something monumentally stupid?—”
“It was one night,” Varyth cut him off. “One night that meant nothing. She’s made that abundantly clear.”
“I haven’t made anything clear because you won’t shut up long enough to?—”
“To what? Hear you explain how desperate you were to get away from me?” His mist had begun to curl around his arms. “Message received, Isara.”
“Listen to yourselves,” Darian tried again, stepping between us. “Both of you. You’re?—”
“You’re unbelievable.” My power rose to meet his, flames igniting at my fingertips. “You couldn’t even look at me this morning.”
“Because I was giving you space.”
“And where was that space last night?”
Varyth’s expression shuttered immediately. “Well, you’re getting it now.”
Something cracked inside my chest. “Perfect. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
“Please,” Darian said, and there was actual desperation in his voice now. “Whatever this is, whatever you’re both trying to prove?—”
“I’m not trying to prove anything,” I said. “I’m just done pretending last night was anything other than a mistake.”
Varyth flinched. Actually flinched, and I hated how much satisfaction that gave me. Hated myself for wanting to hurt him just because I was hurting.
“There we go,” he said softly. “At least now we’re being honest.”
“Honest?” My laugh was acid. “You wouldn’t know honest if it bit you.”
“And you wouldn’t know how to stay if someone paid you.”
“Varyth,” Darian started.
“No.” Varyth’s eyes never left mine. “She wants to leave? Let her.”
The words carved themselves into my spine, sharp and brutal.
“You’re right,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I am leaving. And you know what? I’m glad it meant nothing. Saves me the trouble of having to care.”
“Good.”
“Perfect.”
“Would you both just—” Darian tried one more time.
“I’m done with this.” I backed toward the door, even as every part of me screamed to stay. “Whatever you think this is, whatever game you’re playing, I’m not interested.”
“Then go. No one’s stopping you.”
I turned and walked out before he could see my hands shaking.
