I’m almost to the door when she says, “You wouldn’t cheat on me, would you?”
Fuck! What do I tell her? I spin around, taking a step toward her. “Of course not…I’m just—”
She’s facing me now, sitting upright. Her voice is sharp. “What, Zarreth? You’re just what?”
“Melita…I…” Shit, I can’t tell her. It’ll kill her. I open my mouth to spit out some bullshit non-answer when she cuts me off again.
Her head shakes, and the look she gives me hurts more than my wings being ripped off ever has. “Actually, don’t answer that. I don’t think I could handle a lie coming from your mouth.”
“Please, Frankie…I just—” I don’t finish my sentence because, she deserves the truth and I can’t give that to her.
She points to the door. “Get the fuck out.”
I’m a fucking coward. I should tell her, but I don’t. Instead, I use the opportunity to leave.
“I love you,” I say softly.
She lies back down, her back to me once again.
I fucking hate myself.
CHAPTER 4
Frankie
Islam my car door shut and stomp my way over to Ronin. He finishes taking a drink from his water bottle and tosses it next to his shirt. Black sweatpants hang off his hips as a bead of sweat rolls down his forehead. He enjoys working out before our morning runs. I swear that’s all he does.
“I was starting to think you weren’t going to sh—”
I shove him with all my might, but he doesn’t budge.Damn, I was hoping to knock him over.
“What the hell, Francis?” Grabbing my arms, he holds them by my side so I don’t hit him. He knows me too well.
“Why didn’t you tell me he was cheating on me, you asshole?” I rip my arms from his grip, placing them on my hips.
The shocked look on his face would almost be comical if I weren’t so fucking mad. “What the hell are you talking about?”
My fingers form into fists, but I keep them at my side. “Don’t play dumb! Zarreth’s cheating on me, and you know it.”
His head jerks back, a bewildered look on his face like I insisted the Earth is flat. “No, he’s not.”
I do my best impression of a human lie detector, trying to find a hidden meaning in those three words, but I think he’s telling the truth. “So where’s he been sneaking off to?”
He exhales sharply. “I don’t know, but he’s not cheating on you.”
I narrow my eyes at him and begin stretching my hamstrings. Ronin knows Zarreth better than anyone; I’m sure he’s right, but I have to ask, “You would tell me if he was, wouldn’t you?”
“No,” he says flatly, shrugging his shoulders.
“What the hell, Ronin?” I shoot him a dirty look. “What do you mean,no?
“What? He’s my best friend. But, I’d beat the shit out of him until he told you himself.” Placing his hands on my shoulders, he leans down, looking me directly in the eye. “Stop thinking like that. He’s your fucking mate; he’d never cheat on you.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I know.” I’m just feeling insecure because I can’t have sex with my incredibly hot mate without ruining it. Zarreth isn’t a cheater. He would tell me if things got that bad…I hope.
We finish stretching and take off through the woods. I try keeping my mind on the path, but the same memory creeps in, the one that always shows up when things heat up between me and Zarreth. It’s like a reflex I can’t shake. But that’s not the only thing that triggers me.
I need a way to deal with my emotions without hurting everyone around me. Cutting only buys me a few moments, and I can’t hide it forever. If I don’t find an outlet soon, I really will become the monster everyone warns their children about—the Realm Eater.
