shoulder in passing, support or reassurance.
Slay’s brows shot up, over the touch or at her use of “our”, but he had to suck it up. For better or worse, she’d be leading Ash Valley alongside Dom from this day forward. That would take some getting used to, but she intended to be a strong, reliable partner.
No matter what.
She traded a look with Dom and then tipped her head toward the door. With his eyes, he asked if she was all right on her own. Faintly surprised Animari silent communication had already developed, she nodded. Slay balled up a fist as Dom left.
When the door clicked shut, Slay punched it. “I really don’t like this vibe. Since when am I a thing to take care of? Clue me in before I lose my shit.”
Part of her wanted a better setting than bare gray walls, plain shelves, and benches, but did it really matter where she said this? While she wrestled with the kindest way to break the news, he settled his agitation. One breath, another, and then he was smiling again.
It would be better if you were angry.
“Never mind.” Typical Slay, he didn’t wait for explanations. Instead he pounced, buried his face in her hair and then recoiled. “You smell like Dom. Why the fuck—?”
“I made a deal,” she said softly.
“Don’t jerk me around, Pru. It’s not funny.”
“I’m not. Dom and I, we’re mated.” There was no way to be gentle. Best to drop the truth like a bomb and deal with the fallout.
Baring his teeth, he snarled, “You went away mine and came back his? How does that make sense? Especially now. You know—you fucking do know—that I’ve been waiting.”
Closing her eyes briefly, she sucked in a sharp breath. This was the first time he’d ever said anything remotely like that, and it didn’t soothe the bitter sting since it came only after she’d shifted. Mostly she recalled the shape of his back as he strode away. She also remembered the brutal humiliation of his rejection five years ago, sitting across from Slay and his parents as her nails cut crescents into her clammy palms. Her mother wore a determined smile as she made small talk, and then her father carved through the chatter with his customary bluntness.
“From what I know, these two want each other. We’re here to put our stamp on the match, if your family’s willing.”
Pru had watched the rebuff forming in Lorelle Slater’s eyes, but to her eternal shame, Slay spoke first. “I need a stronger mate, someone capable of fighting beside me. Sorry.”
That old hurt broke wide open, bolstering her resolve, and she shook her head. “I wasn’t yours, and you were never mine, either. You made sure I knew that. I can’t even count how many times you said it… This was fun. As you left.”
“So you fucked my best friend to get even?” Like somebody taking a punch, he rocked a little as he said it, hands opening and closing as if he didn’t know what to do with them.
“That’s not why. Dom needs me, the pride needs him, and you? Don’t deserve me.”
“When did you start hating me?” he whispered. “And why didn’t I know about it?”
“I don’t. I’m just… done. You had ten years of my devotion, and you rewarded me by weighing the odds and deciding the pride could afford to lose me.”
“Fuck, no. I never thought for a minute that Dom would hurt you.” Torment kindled in his lambent eyes, as if she’d cut out his heart and eaten it in front of him.
Pru didn’t let his pain weaken her when she had truth-ammo left to fire off. “We were attacked by Noxblades. If I hadn’t managed to shift, they would’ve executed both of us.”
His legs seemed to give out, and he collapsed onto the nearest bench. “So this is for real.”
“It is. I think… it’ll probably be easier if we put some space between us. Eventually I’m sure we can—”
“Be friends? Screw that.” Slay let out a bitter laugh. “You weren’t alone for the last ten years, sweetness. Did you ever see me with anybody
Slay’s brows shot up, over the touch or at her use of “our”, but he had to suck it up. For better or worse, she’d be leading Ash Valley alongside Dom from this day forward. That would take some getting used to, but she intended to be a strong, reliable partner.
No matter what.
She traded a look with Dom and then tipped her head toward the door. With his eyes, he asked if she was all right on her own. Faintly surprised Animari silent communication had already developed, she nodded. Slay balled up a fist as Dom left.
When the door clicked shut, Slay punched it. “I really don’t like this vibe. Since when am I a thing to take care of? Clue me in before I lose my shit.”
Part of her wanted a better setting than bare gray walls, plain shelves, and benches, but did it really matter where she said this? While she wrestled with the kindest way to break the news, he settled his agitation. One breath, another, and then he was smiling again.
It would be better if you were angry.
“Never mind.” Typical Slay, he didn’t wait for explanations. Instead he pounced, buried his face in her hair and then recoiled. “You smell like Dom. Why the fuck—?”
“I made a deal,” she said softly.
“Don’t jerk me around, Pru. It’s not funny.”
“I’m not. Dom and I, we’re mated.” There was no way to be gentle. Best to drop the truth like a bomb and deal with the fallout.
Baring his teeth, he snarled, “You went away mine and came back his? How does that make sense? Especially now. You know—you fucking do know—that I’ve been waiting.”
Closing her eyes briefly, she sucked in a sharp breath. This was the first time he’d ever said anything remotely like that, and it didn’t soothe the bitter sting since it came only after she’d shifted. Mostly she recalled the shape of his back as he strode away. She also remembered the brutal humiliation of his rejection five years ago, sitting across from Slay and his parents as her nails cut crescents into her clammy palms. Her mother wore a determined smile as she made small talk, and then her father carved through the chatter with his customary bluntness.
“From what I know, these two want each other. We’re here to put our stamp on the match, if your family’s willing.”
Pru had watched the rebuff forming in Lorelle Slater’s eyes, but to her eternal shame, Slay spoke first. “I need a stronger mate, someone capable of fighting beside me. Sorry.”
That old hurt broke wide open, bolstering her resolve, and she shook her head. “I wasn’t yours, and you were never mine, either. You made sure I knew that. I can’t even count how many times you said it… This was fun. As you left.”
“So you fucked my best friend to get even?” Like somebody taking a punch, he rocked a little as he said it, hands opening and closing as if he didn’t know what to do with them.
“That’s not why. Dom needs me, the pride needs him, and you? Don’t deserve me.”
“When did you start hating me?” he whispered. “And why didn’t I know about it?”
“I don’t. I’m just… done. You had ten years of my devotion, and you rewarded me by weighing the odds and deciding the pride could afford to lose me.”
“Fuck, no. I never thought for a minute that Dom would hurt you.” Torment kindled in his lambent eyes, as if she’d cut out his heart and eaten it in front of him.
Pru didn’t let his pain weaken her when she had truth-ammo left to fire off. “We were attacked by Noxblades. If I hadn’t managed to shift, they would’ve executed both of us.”
His legs seemed to give out, and he collapsed onto the nearest bench. “So this is for real.”
“It is. I think… it’ll probably be easier if we put some space between us. Eventually I’m sure we can—”
“Be friends? Screw that.” Slay let out a bitter laugh. “You weren’t alone for the last ten years, sweetness. Did you ever see me with anybody
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