“I beg your pardon?”
“That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You had the biggest crush on him all those years ago, and now you’re just jealous that I got him, and you didn’t!” I’ve never seen Mabel Rose’s face so red, so pinched, sougly.
“Got him? Yougothim?!” I bark out a hateful laugh. “He just admitted that you’re an easy fuck at my house last night! In front of our families.”
The length of her throat stretches and shifts. The insecurity stewing in her thoughts is bleeding into the minute changes in her body language. The twitching of her thumbs, licking of her lips, and uneven motion of her breathing.
“Did you really think we could still be friends after this? Even if I could get past the fact that you’re sleeping with the man who has made it his mission to cause me great pain and humiliation, you lied to me for eight months. You are no friend of mine, Mabel Rose.”
Off in the wintery distance of the estate, my brother and Niklaus make their way toward us. Their eyes are firmly on us with alarm and heightened interest.
“Then thank you for helping me realize something today,” the traitor says calmly, schooling her features to appear poised and indifferent.
“And what’s that?”
“I guess I’d rather be his easy fuck then your friend.” White-hot venom. And she isn’t done yet. Her white eyebrow lifts with a menacing thought. “Oh, and Sapphire? Your father is in a coma and is never going to wake. Get the fuck over it.”
If I wasn’t so shocked by her malice, I would act on the tendrils of resentment and wrath binding my organs in a chokehold. She didn’t. She wouldn’t. Unforgiveable. Dead to me.
“What are you two talking about?” Niklaus closes the distance behind Mabel Rose, consuming her small frame with his bulking height.
“You okay?” Krimson asks close to my ear.
I barely shake my head.
I’m not okay.
Niklaus holds my gaze like he’s trying to pass me a secret message. With one arm draped over the traitor’s shoulders, his smirk is slight. It tugs on the strong jawline covered in black whiskers, revealing a dimple on his left cheek. If I didn’t know of the dark, dirty contours of his soul at every angle, I’d think he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.
A deceiving devil dressed as an angel.
And he’s just taken my best friend away from me.
Murder dances behind my eyes, showering my thoughts with creative, delicious, substantial forms of torture and death.
Maybe I’m more like my father than I realized.
Letter #675
Skylenna
Dear Kane,
It’s been a long week of temper tantrums from Sapphire. She’s only four years old, but her mean streak is dramatically advanced. And the cruel things she’s said to me? I didn’t know a child could have such strong opinions. Last night she told me she wished I was in the coma instead of you. I just looked at her red face and nodded with tears pooling in my eyes. “Me too, baby. Me too.”
Sometimes I watch these meltdowns, though, and want to laugh. The thought of you attempting to quell the theatrical outbursts and trying to keep your composure is hilarious. And don’t get me started about the thought of Dessin trying his luck with her.
We had a good day though. I took Krimson and Sapphire to a small farm in the Bear Traps. They held chickens, milked a cow, and held baby goats. Sapphire held my hand for half of the trip.
I wish you could have seen it. I was so happy.
I’m working so hard to take care of your babies, honey. I put everything I have into loving them, caring for them, never letting them see me cry over your absence.
I hope I’m making you proud.
I love you still.
Sincerely,
