He walks away, his crew trailing behind. I watch until they're out of sight, my body still tense.
Trinity touches my arm. "Hey. Look at me."
I turn to her, the motion stiff.
Her eyes search mine. "Talk to me."
"There's nothing to say."
"Bullshit." Her voice carries an edge. "That man clearly has history with you, and not the good kind. I deserve to know what's going on."
I run a hand through my hair, frustration building. "It's complicated."
"Then uncomplicate it." She crosses her arms. "Because right now, it feels like you're shutting me out. And after what just happened between us, I won't accept that."
She's right, after the intimacy we just shared, after the way she trusted me with her body, I owe her more than silence.
I exhale sharply. "Strange interviewed me after my brother's death. I was young, grieving, trying to explain our side of the conflict. He promised to tell our story fairly." My hands clench. "Instead, he painted me as a bloodthirsty savage who sacrificed my own brother for human approval. The article destroyed my remaining political connections. My father disowned me. I was exiled from my clan."
Trinity's expression softens. "Oh, Korgan."
I shake my head. "It's in the past."
"Is it?" She steps closer. "Because that man just threatened us both, and you're acting like this is normal."
"It's not normal. But it's not unexpected either." I meet her eyes. "People like Webb always find ways to twist things. To make stories fit their narrative."
"And what's their narrative here?"
I don't answer. Don't need to. We both know what Webb wants to paint—an orc using a human woman for publicity, a woman being manipulated for ratings. The story he tried to sell years ago, just with different details.
Trinity searches my face. "What are you thinking?"
"That I should have been more careful." The words come out rougher than intended. "That I let myself get distracted when I knew better."
Her expression shutters. "Distracted."
"Trinity—"
She steps back, her arms wrapping around herself. "Right. Of course." She forces a smile. "Well. At least we know where we stand."
Before I respond, she turns and walks into the house, leaving me standing alone on the porch with my mistakes pressing down on me.
I want to follow her, to explain that I didn't mean it like that, that I'm not thinking clearly with Webb's presence stirring up old ghosts. But the cameras are watching, and the last thing Trinity needs is more public scrutiny.
So I stand there, watching the door she disappeared through, and wonder how everything went from perfect to shattered in the space of an hour.
The rain starts again, cold and relentless. Fitting. I welcome the discomfort, the way it grounds me in the present instead of letting me spiral into memories of the last time Webb destroyed my life.
Because this time, it's not just my reputation on the line. This time, Trinity stands to lose everything too.
And that changes the game entirely.
CHAPTER 9
TRINITY
DISTRACTED.
