Reginald’s POV
Sothing’s off with Fiona, and I can feel it in my bones. I keep catching her in my peripheral vision, but every ti I try to et her eyes, she looks away. What the hell is going on?
This isn’t right.
When we stop for lunch and so much-needed rest, I drag Fiona aside. We need to talk.
"Don’t even think about feeding so bullshit line that nothing’s wrong. Sothing’s completely fucked up here. What is it?"
I narrow my eyes, searching her face for any crack in that stone-cold mask she’s wearing. But she gives nothing.
"Nothing’s wrong."
I slam my hands against the wall on either side of her head, caging her in. Her breath hitches slightly, and I lean in close enough to see the flecks of gold in her eyes.
"I already told you—don’t lie to . Don’t say there’s nothing when it’s written all over your face. You’re going to tell what the fuck is eating at you."
She inhales sharply, her chest rising against mine, but her answer stays the sa. "There’s nothing."
My patience snaps like a rubber band. "I’m done with this attitude, Fiona. What did you expect? Five-star accommodations and a red carpet? We’re in enemy territory, and they don’t trust us yet. That’s how this works. Stop acting like a spoiled princess. I really can’t stand this right now."
But she just presses her lips together in that stubborn way that makes want to shake her. Her chin tilts up defiantly, and she doesn’t budge an inch.
"I’m asking you one final ti—tell the truth. What’s going on?" My voice drops dangerously low as a wild thought hits . "Did you sleep with Allen again? Did he force you, or were you willing to spread your legs for so drugs?"
The slap cos so fast I don’t see it coming. The crack echoes in the small space, and for a mont, I’m too stunned to process what just happened. It doesn’t hurt much, but the shock freezes solid.
"Did you just fucking slap ?"
"You crossed the line, Reginald. Is that really what you think of ? Is that how you’ve seen this whole ti?"
I want to say sothing, anything, but she’s already shoving away and storming off before I can get my head straight.
Sothing twists in my chest—an unfamiliar feeling that I don’t like. I’ve never cared this much about Fiona’s cold shoulder before.
We barely touch our food before we have to hit the road again, heading for the capital city of the Valerium kingdom.
That night, stuck in another pack house, Fiona’s still giving the deep freeze. At least this place doesn’t have mystery stains on the sheets—they actually look clean enough to sleep on. She looks exhausted, ready to collapse.
But I’m not letting her rest until she spills whatever’s been eating at her all day.
Unfortunately for her, there’s nowhere to run in this cramped room. Just a bed and four walls. Not even a damn couch.
"For fuck’s sake, Fiona, just tell what the hell is wrong with you!" I’m losing it, running my hands through my hair and slamming my fist into the wall. "Don’t give that ’nothing’ bullshit again when it’s obvious sothing’s tearing you apart!"
She grits her teeth, and I can see the words fighting to break free. She’s right on the edge.
"What is it?!" I can practically taste her confession hanging in the air. "WHAT. THE. FUCK. IS. IT?!"
"Do you love her?!" The words explode out of her like a dam bursting. Her whole body shakes. "Do you love her?!"
My blood turns to ice. "What are you talking about?" But even as I say it, I know exactly who she ans. There’s only soone who’s ever had that kind of hold on .
But there’s no way she could know.
"Answer !"
"I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about," I growl, going on the defensive. "Are you out of your mind? You’re my mate. How could I possibly love soone else?"
She shakes her head, frustrated tears starting to fall. "Cut the crap, Reginald. You won’t admit it." Her voice cracks. "Phoebe. You call her na in your sleep. Over and over. You whisper how much you miss her."
The tears streaming down her face hit like a physical blow. She looks like soone just ripped her heart out and stomped on it.
"Are you insane? She’s my stepsister and the king’s mate!"
"You’re still not answering my question! Tell —do you love her?!"
I hesitate for just a split second too long. The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. "I don’t. I don’t love her."
We both know it’s complete bullshit. Fiona actually laughs—a broken, hollow sound that makes my chest ache.
"You think I’m going to buy that? You don’t even believe what just ca out of your mouth." Her teeth clench so hard I’m surprised they don’t crack.
She looks at like she’s seeing clearly for the first ti, and she doesn’t like what she sees.
"You and I both know our mate bond is pathetically weak. You only care about because I’m useful to you, right?"
She’s right. Chosen mate bonds are never as strong as destined bonds, especially when soone’s heart belongs to soone else entirely.
"Now I understand why I’ve always felt like sothing was missing between us." That bitter laugh again. "God, I feel like such an idiot."
"I don’t love her," I repeat, but the words are empty. Hollow. How can I deny sothing that’s been true since we were kids, even when she never noticed?
"You really expect to believe that?"
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