on my neck, bleeding to death. How could you watch me die, Devon?” I shouted. I tried not to get emotional but it kind of bothered me because I once trusted him. He made me feel special and then threw me to the wolves. That was bound to hurt more than my escape from Shadowville aka prison. Maybe I hoped he cared about me more than he actually did.
Did I had a small crush on him and was in denial? The thought caught me by surprise. I quickly pushed it to the back of my mind and glanced at Devon. He was still staring at me. Even though his expression had softened and his eyes looked miserable, it scared the crap out of me when people kept staring like that.
“Watching you almost die was the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said quietly.
“Almost?” Snorting, I crossed my arms. Talking about what happened that fateful day was difficult. I felt betrayed by all. Aidan, Kieran, Cass, but most importantly Devon, because he told me the Shadows protected mortals. He guaranteed my safety. “I hate to remind you, mate, but my life kinda ended that day. My mortal one at least.”
“I’m sorry, Amber.” He moved and reached out, then withdrew his hand again, as though unsure how I’d react to his touch. “I should’ve been there for you when you needed me the most.”
My gaze bore into his, and for the first time I didn’t feel intimidated by his height and muscles and everything he represented. “Damn straight. If it weren’t for Kieran, I’d be dead and we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Just admit I was expendable.”
He shook his head, his black eyes flickering with something I couldn’t place. “Don’t ever say that! I fought to get to you but—” He stared at me as though he wanted to say something but decided to keep it to himself. He looked so earnest I almost believed he cared, but my heart just wouldn’t buy it.
“We need to talk,” I said eventually, eager to change the subject.
“You mentioned that.” Apart from the tiny glint that vanished just as quickly as it appeared, I saw nothing else in his expression that would betray his thoughts. I hated that I couldn’t read him. “Why don’t you come out and we can sit down for a chat?”
Opening the gate would mean leaving the safety of Aidan’s magic behind. “Do you think ‘stupid’ is my middle name? I learned my lesson the last time I was almost kidnapped by one of your kind.” I waited for him to start defending his friend, Connor. He didn’t. “What? You have no excuse up your sleeve? That’s surprising.”
“Are you lonely, Amber? Is your boyfriend not spending enough time with you?”
His tone was too sweet. Too—mocking. Maybe even a tad hopeful. I could take the bite and start raving about my relationship with Aidan, which would only lead to Devon thinking he was right. Or I could just use his own strategy of ignoring everything I didn’t want to elaborate on. I bit my tongue and even managed to keep my mouth shut for a whole two seconds. And then I thought, toss it. Avoiding an argument had never been my style. My gaze narrowed as I smiled sweetly. “As a matter of fact, Devon, we’re very much in love and couldn’t be happier. But, like every normal person, we do spend a few hours a day apart, you know, just to keep the fire blazing.”
“I always had the impression you guys were cold. I guess that’s just a myth then.” His voice dripped with sarcasm. He didn’t take me seriously. I wished I had just kept my mouth shut.
I raised my chin defiantly, deciding to let his snide remark slide past. “Did you get to witness Deidre perform Kieran’s ritual?”
The sudden change in topic seemed to take him by surprise. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his gaze shifted to our feet for a few seconds before focusing back on me. He was being wary again.
focusing back on me. He was being wary again.
I rolled my eyes. “Come on. You’re not exactly giving away a state secret. If you
Did I had a small crush on him and was in denial? The thought caught me by surprise. I quickly pushed it to the back of my mind and glanced at Devon. He was still staring at me. Even though his expression had softened and his eyes looked miserable, it scared the crap out of me when people kept staring like that.
“Watching you almost die was the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said quietly.
“Almost?” Snorting, I crossed my arms. Talking about what happened that fateful day was difficult. I felt betrayed by all. Aidan, Kieran, Cass, but most importantly Devon, because he told me the Shadows protected mortals. He guaranteed my safety. “I hate to remind you, mate, but my life kinda ended that day. My mortal one at least.”
“I’m sorry, Amber.” He moved and reached out, then withdrew his hand again, as though unsure how I’d react to his touch. “I should’ve been there for you when you needed me the most.”
My gaze bore into his, and for the first time I didn’t feel intimidated by his height and muscles and everything he represented. “Damn straight. If it weren’t for Kieran, I’d be dead and we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Just admit I was expendable.”
He shook his head, his black eyes flickering with something I couldn’t place. “Don’t ever say that! I fought to get to you but—” He stared at me as though he wanted to say something but decided to keep it to himself. He looked so earnest I almost believed he cared, but my heart just wouldn’t buy it.
“We need to talk,” I said eventually, eager to change the subject.
“You mentioned that.” Apart from the tiny glint that vanished just as quickly as it appeared, I saw nothing else in his expression that would betray his thoughts. I hated that I couldn’t read him. “Why don’t you come out and we can sit down for a chat?”
Opening the gate would mean leaving the safety of Aidan’s magic behind. “Do you think ‘stupid’ is my middle name? I learned my lesson the last time I was almost kidnapped by one of your kind.” I waited for him to start defending his friend, Connor. He didn’t. “What? You have no excuse up your sleeve? That’s surprising.”
“Are you lonely, Amber? Is your boyfriend not spending enough time with you?”
His tone was too sweet. Too—mocking. Maybe even a tad hopeful. I could take the bite and start raving about my relationship with Aidan, which would only lead to Devon thinking he was right. Or I could just use his own strategy of ignoring everything I didn’t want to elaborate on. I bit my tongue and even managed to keep my mouth shut for a whole two seconds. And then I thought, toss it. Avoiding an argument had never been my style. My gaze narrowed as I smiled sweetly. “As a matter of fact, Devon, we’re very much in love and couldn’t be happier. But, like every normal person, we do spend a few hours a day apart, you know, just to keep the fire blazing.”
“I always had the impression you guys were cold. I guess that’s just a myth then.” His voice dripped with sarcasm. He didn’t take me seriously. I wished I had just kept my mouth shut.
I raised my chin defiantly, deciding to let his snide remark slide past. “Did you get to witness Deidre perform Kieran’s ritual?”
The sudden change in topic seemed to take him by surprise. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his gaze shifted to our feet for a few seconds before focusing back on me. He was being wary again.
focusing back on me. He was being wary again.
I rolled my eyes. “Come on. You’re not exactly giving away a state secret. If you
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