Her accusations grate on me. “Welcome to my kingdom.”
“Exactly.Yourkingdom. You're the king. You have a responsibility—”
“The Pyredii must be strong enough to fend for themselves! I will not tolerate weakness!” I roar.
All the color ebbs from Renee’s face. “And there it is. You don't care at all. Not about them.” Her voice breaks. “Not about me.” She fingers the fire-stone set in the collar around her neck.
I take a breath, ready to say something cutting but her eyes are brimming. The words shrivel on my lips as a fat tear escapes and trickles down her pale, freckled cheek.
“Damnit,” she says, wiping it away with a sniff. “Never let ‘em see you cry.”
I’ve never seen her weep before. There’s a searing ache in my chest. “Pet—”
Ignoring me, she stands in the wreckage of the room, sobbing so hard her shoulders shake, her face in her hands. Her sorrow lances through the bond, screeching like nails raked down a smooth rock surface.
On instinct, I begin to purr.
“No!” she barks, raising red-rimmed eyes to meet mine. “Don’t. I don’t want your fucking pity!”
Is that what I feel? I stop purring. “It’s not pity. It’s just to soothe—”
She interrupts me again, holding up a trembling hand. “Whatever it is, I don’t want it. This is what got me so messed up in the first place. You blowing hot and cold, showing hints of affection, when in reality…” She exhales shakily and wipes her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I wish I had a dang tissue, a rag, anything to blow my nose.”
I make a square of the softest cloth and hand it to her.
“Thanks. Ugh.” She presses it to her face. A moment later, she raises her head again. Her eyes are still wet but her sobs have stopped.
Females,my father would say, shaking his head. He would always stomp away, slamming doors in his wake, drowning out the sounds of weeping.
Squaring my shoulders, I lift my chin and point to the doorway with a single talon. “Go to your chambers, and stay there. You will not leave them until I summon you.”
Renee scoffs. “You think I’ll come when you call? Don’t hold your breath.” She picks her way through the fallen detritus and glides through the open door. Her graceful exit makes me feel worse.
Slamming doors. Stomping boots. Thehriox’s sad song, accompanied by muffled sobs.I clutch my head, willing the memories to stop. My claws tear into my scalp.
When I lower my hands, the castle is silent. Renee is long gone. And where there used to be warmth and light in the bond, there’s nothing left but emptiness.
As it should be.
* * *
Renee
I curl up on my bed, but there are no more tears. Words can’t describe how upset I am. The more I try to get closer to Krav, to get him to open up to me, the more he retreats. And that conversation just now was the final straw.
It was hard for me to approach him about the kid thing, especially to admit that I want one… with him… and then he just casually told me that not only has he been actively using birth control—without my knowledge—he didn’t even understand why it would be any of my business!
What the actual fuck?
It wasn’t intentional deceit, either. He didn’t look like a guy caught in a lie. He genuinely didn’t think he needed to tell me.
Why?
Because he doesn’t think I’m important enough. Because he doesn’t see me as a partner. Because he’s incapable of feeling any emotion other than pride, lust, anger, and jealousy. Four of the seven deadly sins, come to think of it.
And now his kingdom is at risk of being swallowed up by lava—the parts that aren’t already covered in it, that is. I once saw a documentary on Pompeii, how the entire city was devastated by the erupting volcano in just fifteen minutes. Now the poor Pyredii are facing a similar fate. I wish I could do something.
Infuriatingly, I can’t even help myself. I’ve been sent to my room like a naughty child. So as far as I’m concerned, Krav can go fuck himself. Literally. I will not be hisgood little petanymore.
