That was the wrong thing to say.
All of the blood drained out of her face. “Shared dreams?” she repeated. “You were actually there?”
I tried to backpedal.
“I should have told you days ago, but I thought youwould be scared of our bond until I won you over. I was taught that witches don’t feel it, but you did. You channeled my magic, for fuck’s sake, Juniper.”
Her shoulders tightened until she was a sharper, colder version of herself. “I can’t trust anything you say… I don’t want you near me.”
With determined steps, she crossed the room and grabbed my coat off the sofa.
“Juniper?”
I trailed behind her as she stalked outside, past her chatting family onto the sand.
“Juniper!” I called.
Tears ran down her face, and she ignored them, letting them drip off her jaw. She stormed across the sand until the waves lapped around her ankles.
My steps slowed as I reached her. “What are you doing?” I asked tentatively.
“I want you to go. Leave me alone.” Each word was so cold, she didn’t sound anything like my Juniper. With her eyes on me, she tossed my coat into the shallow water.
The cold rippled through me. My muscles went taut, my body straining to reach my coat, but my heart trying to claw out of my ribcage and go to Juniper.
Her chest heaved as the last of her fight drained out of her. With short, uneven steps, she marched back up to her grandmother’s house.
The water soaked into my shoes as I retrieved my coat.The water slid off the dense fur.
I should go after her.
She was very clear that she didn’t want to see me.
Maybe some time to cool off would help, but she would have to accept that I wasn’t going anywhere. I belonged to her.
I’d give her the space she wanted, but only for a time.
With a defeated sigh, I walked into the surf and pulled my coat over myself. In a shimmer of magic, I changed forms and slid into the water.
Chapter 17
Emotional Trauma
Juniper
My breathing came in great heaving sobs. My steps slowed. I couldn’t go back to my family. The extended family would be arriving soon, and I didn’t want my mother and sister to see me like this, and especially not Derek. I should have let Caspian punch him.
The gaping hole in my heart tore open and I doubled over, resting my hands on my knees as I fought back the heartbroken wail fighting to escape my chest.
He wasn’t anything like I thought he was.
I believed Caspian was my dream guy, and I had sincerely hoped our connection was real. And it was real, but he was lying to me the entire time. Manipulating me.
Somehow it hurt worse than when Derek left. My expectations for Derek had been in the dirt, but Caspian had me believing that he was better—that I was special to him.
Fuck!
My chest ached, like a cord was wrapped around my ribs, pulling tight, dragging me back to the water. I had to be imagining it.
