‘How do you know?’ I chuckled. ‘I was a lonely teenager.’
He smiled sadly. Something in his demeanour shifted.
‘A night of passion doesn’t chase the loneliness away.’ His bright eyes dimmed. ‘It triples in the morning when you’re left alone and realise that the person you just shared yourself with doesn’t care if you live or die.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I whispered, feeling his pain. ‘You’ll find the one destined for you. I’m sure.’
He looked away, toward the cracked window. The curtains swayed lightly as he used his power to push them aside.
‘It’s a lovely day out, don’t spend it in your bed. And eat something hearty.’ Standing swiftly, he winked at me. ‘It’ll help chase the hangover away.’
‘Thanks, Isaac.’ I couldn’t help noticing that the pain he spoke of lingered somewhere behind his kind gaze, buried deep inside and quietly eating away at him.
Shadows chased around him on the floor.
‘Are you free in three days?’ he asked, preparing to leave. ‘We need to improve that shape of yours.’
‘Gods, thanks,’ I blurted, crossing my arms. What the hell was he trying to do? I already knew I wasn’t as pretty as most faelings.
‘Build some muscle, I mean.’ He laughed before looking at his watch. ‘My classes start soon; I’ll see you in three days. Take care of yourself, Ava.’
‘You too.’
He was gone. And just as he disappeared, Miriam burst in, accusation plain on her tired face as she stood in the doorway with one hand on her hip, as though I’d done something wrong.
‘Tell me you did not just spend the night with the Isaac fucking Veludo.’
My hand wandered to my forehead while I questioned the sanity of those around me. ‘How exactly would my spending the night with Isaac matter to you?’
'Um, hello, Ava? He is literally one of the scariest males I know. I suppose that might be the appeal?’ she questioned, though it sounded rhetorical.
She left me speechless. It took a moment to get my bearings.
‘Didn’t you warn me to stay away from him?’
The mattress creaked as she jumped on it and lay next to me. ‘I mean, the man doesn’t seem his usual self around you so it’s a little different.’
Okay…
‘How so?’
‘Just less allgrrrand moreaww,’ she said like it was supposed to mean something to me.
‘Erm… alright.’ My eyes rolled. ‘We didn’t spend the night together; he’s after his mate, Miriam.’
She snorted, looking for something in my expression. When she eventually gave up, she looked even more confused. ‘That’s why he stayed overnight in your room? To discuss his desire to find a mate?’
The little nagger wouldn’t relent, so I indulged her. ‘No. I got drunk, so he brought me back and probably felt the need to stay to make sure I was fine. Alcohol does terrible things to me.’
‘Join the club. The things I’ve done when I was tipsy…’ Shivers ran through her body as she suddenly went rigid.
Silence stretched, and I was starting to get worried as she pleaded, ‘I have to tell you something and I hope you’ll try to understand things from our perspective.’
Gods.
‘What happened?’
Deep breaths. Something wasn’t right.
