This wouldn’t end well. We had too much baggage to ever get past.
Closing my eyes, I leant into him with a sigh.
I’d always been a fool for Rys.
“You lied to me.”
His words took a moment to register, and when they did, I groaned.
This again.
I opened my mouth to say the same things I always did, but the next words out of his mouth froze me in place.
“You’re a fuckingfae.”
Bollocks.
I glanced at my bare wrist. If he hadn’t seen me walk through the arch, he’d have known by the absence of a wristband.
Fucking stupid, Gabriel. You should’ve realised this would happen.
In my defence, I’d forgotten all about the magical arch until we got to the club, and since Max already knew I hadn’t thought much of it at the time. My fae heritage wasn’t a secret. I was registered just like every other non-human. I didn’t go out of my way to hide it anymore. But I didn’t broadcast it either.
And I’d never told Rys.
“I never said I was human,” I murmured, knowing he’d hear me.
He tensed, arms tightening around me. “You never said you weren’t.”
No, I hadn’t.
I could imagine all the questions he had for me, and if I wanted to get past this awkward, painful dance we did in each other’s presence, then I had to give him some answers.
But he had to listen this time.
“Not here.”
He let me go, and I walked off the dance floor, Rys hot on my heels. I led him back to the bar near the front of the club. Max gave me a questioning look, but I shook my head at him and took a seat at the other end of the bar.
I gave Nick the same response when he started to come over.
I turned to find Rys scowling. “Can’t we go somewhere else?” He shot Nick a murderous glare, and wow. He really did have a problem with him.
“No. Max is my ride home, and technically I’m still on the clock.”
Rys grunted but took the seat next to me nearest the wall. He sat with his back to it, eyes fixed on me. “How could you be a hunter when you have fae blood running through your veins?”
I sighed and rubbed a hand over my face. This was why I never told anyone, because whatever answer I gave to that question, it was never the right one. I met his gaze, ignoring the jolt of awareness I got every time I looked at him. “I’ll explain, but you need to listen and not fucking judge.”
Rys snorted. “I can’t promise that.”
I got up to leave, but he caught me with a hand on my arm. I glared at him until he removed it.
“I’ll listen and keep my opinions to myself,” he said, voice soft but still with an edge to it. “I can promise you that. But you hunted non-humans, Gabriel.”
I’d always loved the way he said my name.
He shrugged. “It was bad enough when I thought you were human. But now? Knowing you’re one of us? I can’t promise not to judge you for that.”
