“Right after you kicked Liam out… I was helping clean up my mom’s house, and he came to say goodbye.” She touched her lips as if remembering the kiss.
My heart sank further into my chest. “Oh, Elle, and I screwed that up when he left. I’m so sorry.”
Could I be any more of a shitty person?
Elle waved her hand. “Nah, I don’t think he would have had the balls to kiss me if you hadn’t kicked them out.”
I groaned. “I didn’t kick them all out. Just Liam.”
She shrugged. “Whatever, theyallhate you. Beware.”
Great. Some freaking pep talk this was. “How bad were his injuries?” My voice shook a little.
Elle ran her fingers through her hair and blew air through her teeth. “Bad. Ruptured spleen, three broken ribs, fluid in the sac around the heart.”
My eyes widened. “But he’s okay?”
She nodded. “Kira is amazing.”
Thank the gods for Kira. What had I been thinking, leaving him there alone like that… I’d let my head get all messed up, and now I didn’t know how to fix it. This was all compounded by the fact that I was still mad at him for killing my mom. Even though it was self-defense, even though my mom had been awful to him… I couldn’t get my head wrapped around it all.
“It will take time for you guys to figure out where you stand.” Elle reached out and squeezed my hand. “For now, let’s focus on the political alliance of the Queen of Faerie and the Prince of Winter.”
Oh yeah. He was a prince. Of Winter. I freaking almost let the Prince of Winter die. Some great politician I was.
I groaned. “Let’s definitely get one of those giant margarita drinks when we are done here.”
Elle grinned. “And poker?”
“Sure.” When else would I have this special time with my bestie?
With a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped out into the warm night air.
Did I want Liam to forgive me? Did I want to forgive him? Or did I really just need to forgive myself?
Chapter 6
“Hello, Satan,” Cam growled through a crack in the door, glaring at me with his descended fangs.
“Calm down,” Elle snapped at him, but I waved her off.
“I probably deserve that,” I told him.
His upper lip curled. “Here to rub salt in his barely healing wounds?” he asked.
“She is the one who ordered his healing,” Elle told Cam, and I placed a hand on my best friend’s shoulder.
“I’ve got this, Elle.” Then, I faced Cam and sighed. “I’m here to talk peace.”
“One second.” Cam shut the door, hard.
Fear churned in my gut when the door to the room next door opened and Cain peeked his head out. His hair was messed up like maybe he’d been sleeping, but despite the hatred from Cam, he gave me a smile and a small wave. “Hi, Lily. Hey, Elle, I miss your pancakes.”
She smiled, giving him a wave back. “I’ll make them again soon, okay?”
He nodded, and then one of the older kids pulled him back inside and closed the door.
My heart tore in two then.
