“Despite what I say? How about, despite the truth! Their emotions, their intentions, were so potent I could taste them in the air! Lochlainn’s was laced with worry, but not for you—for himself! Scared of losing his prized resource. Not you, not a friend, not a life—aresource!” He took a step forward, voice sharpening. “And the dark-haired one . . .”
“Pogue.” I shot out. “I saw him, hedidtry to help!”
“Then tell me,” David’s voice cracked like thunder, ripping through the room. “Why was he radiating shame? Dripping with fear, hesitancy, and most of all—guilt! He could have done more, but he didn’t. Choosing himself first andonly growing a conscience when it was too damn late! All cowards! Pissing themselves from fear. The only one with an ounce of genuine care was that blonde pup. As ifhecould’ve saved you,” he scoffed in disgust.
A heavy stone dropped in my stomach, drowning every last shred of hope that I hadn’t imagined it. That I did matter in some small way to them.
I’d been such a fool.Again.
There was no denying David’s ability, it always read true. But my mind still wanted to argue, to cling to the comfort of my stubbornness, buying me more time to avoid the inevitable truth.
But I swear IsawPogue. He was there. Hell, he sacrificed himself, refusing to let go, getting dragged into the woods right beside me. Why would he have done that, if not to help me?
But David was right. The truth was right there. He hesitated and clearly felt guilty about it.
And yet, could I really blame him for that? He didn’t know me, didn’t owe me anything.
Lochlainn and Keeffe fearing for their own safety was not entirely surprising. Not even the truth that Lochlainn was more worried about losing his Soulsayerthan losingme.
Fool.My insides recoiled. A piece of me withering away.
I was so pathetically happy to delude myself into thinking we werefriends. A step beyond acquaintances, even.
Being used wasn’t new. My heart hoped I was wrong.
Finley. My chest clenched at the thought of him. The way he reached out, knowing I was crumbling inside. He was just that kind of person. A sweetheart, through and through. Though, hearing David call him apupdefinitely sent a jolt of irritation through me. Ridiculous, really. The man was a towering hunk of muscle. Sure, he had a face that could charmgrouchy old ladies and get away with murder, but a boyishpup? Definitely not.
Frustrated tears swelled in my eyes again from the deepest infliction of the night—not the bruises on my battered body, or the barb-like spines that had dug into my ankle and bones, not even the chunk taken out of my shoulder that led to me bleeding out. No, none of those compared to the final blow. The one left from myself, my naivety.
And David hiding a secret from me again . . . it stung.
A droplet fell, trickling past the corner of my mouth as I gritted my teeth. My jaw quivered with the words I needed to say.
“You lied to me.Again.” My whisper melted into a sob. “How could you? After everything! First, your abilities. Then, my mother—themurderedQueen!Now this? The Lord of fucking Loveland, David? Don’t you think that’s something I had a right to know?”
My throat hurt. It tightened, failing to hold the dam of emotions back.
“Everyone there knew. They all knew who the Lord of Loveland was—except me,” I spat, voice low as my own words broke me. “What happened to caring for me like your own daughter?”
David visibly flinched.
“What else are you keeping from me?” A flicker of rage shot through me, not entirely at him, but at every hit I’d taken in life. “Got any more knives sharpened? Think there’s still some room left on my skin to scar!” I regretted the words as soon as they fell off my tongue.
David’s eyes welled.
I was mad at him, yes. But I knew he would never do anything to deliberately hurt me. Guilt lashed my heart, another internal scar, but my own doing this time. My handunconsciously rose to my throat, to where my collection first started, as my chest heaved in another sob-torn breath.
“I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have said that,” I breathed.
David’s frown deepened, his gaze locking onto the tattered choker on my neck, before sliding down to the newly marked flesh below. His eyes glistened, aware I wasn’t talking about the kind of wounds you could see.
“It’s just—It hurts.” I laid a hand over my heart, eyes pleading with David. Spinning around, I waved toward Wyatt and the Cherubs. “Everyone seems to be in on it. Except me. Thathurts. . .”
Why hadn’t he let me in, told me the truth? I could feel every beast of insecurity charging forward, overwhelming me with emotions.
A low hum rattled the windows. The chandelier creaked, swinging above us.
The darkness that slept inside me stirred—rising to the surface, peeking its head out to watch.
