Charlie had been on a date. With afucking succubus.
Andfuckingwas the right word, because Iknewhe’d slept with her. Scarlet had a reputation at this prison for handing out pussy like it was candy. I bet he’d eaten it up, too.
Whatever. I didn’t give a shit. Unfortunately, I still had to go to counseling sessions with the bastard, so I dragged my happy little ass down to the therapy tower on Friday, bitching about the situation to Oberi the entire way. She walked at my side as a unicorn as I ranted, waving my arms and all.
“Look, it’s not like Icare,” I seethed, wrinkling my nose. “But I’m just saying, she’s gonna dump him like a hot tomato once she gets bored, so he better be prepared to lose out on that golden vagina she’s always bragging about.”
I think the phrase is hot potato, Oberi objected.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you’d be obsessed with semantics.”
I understand you’re hurt, but he’s hurting, too,Oberi said.
I gave a loud snort. “I’m not hurt. I don’t feel a damn thing. And if he was so hurt, he’d talk to me about it, instead of looking for some other girl to sink his dick into.”
You’re jealous.
“If I was jealous, I would say something to him, but I haven’t, so I can’t be bothered,” I offered with a shrug.
He’s just looking for comfort.
“I’m sure she’scomforting him, all right.”
Oberi gave a snuff and shook her head. Kallie was waiting at the base of the stairs. She pushed off against the wall she was leaning on as I came near. I spotted Alette’s antennas peeking out from under Kallie’s hair.
“Are you okay?” I asked. I hadn’t seen her since the other day, when I’d used my healing powers to bring her back around after she’d been knocked out.
“I’m fine,” Kallie said, and she rubbed her temple. “Though I’ve had a headache ever since. Marcus’ magic is strong as hell.”
“The other day, when the vampires had you cornered… why didn’t you stop time and save yourself?” I asked her.
“I tried, but I was too afraid,” she said. “Illusion magic doesn’t work if you’re frightened, and my demigod powers are still linked to my fae magic. I was so scared about what could have happened to Marcus…”
She trailed off, and I nodded. Kallie was a badass assassin. She might’ve been able to take those vamps no problem, but she was too worried about what they might’ve done to her mate. No wonder she rushed into the situation without using her head.
She dropped her gaze. “Have I ever told you that my powers are affected by how Marcus treats me?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“It has to do with the mating bond,” she explained. “I’m a fae, and we’re not strong without our mates, especially shifters. If Marcus and I are fighting, my powers become weaker across the board. And we haven’t embraced the bond yet, so…”
“Why don’t you two get together already?” I questioned. “We all know you like each other, and that you’re mated.”
“It’s not that simple,” she insisted. “He’s never going to stop pushing me away, and it’skillingme, Ava. I’m a wolf who’s been rejected by her mate, and that’s always going to make me vulnerable. Until he accepts me… and he never will… I won’t be able to access the height of my powers.”
She looked away and wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. “But it’s no use trying to fight it. I’m a lone wolf. I always have been. I just have to figure out how to go at it alone.”
I wanted to protest further, but I thought about Charlie and me. We were one soul living in two separate bodies, who were destined to be together, but we weren’t. I couldn’t convince Kallie there was hope for her situation when I didn’t feel like there was any for my own.
“Kallie, people have figured out he’s your weak spot,” I warned her. “You have to be careful.”
She rubbed her arms. “I know. I don’t think when he’s in danger. I just act.”
“You can’t,” I argued. “If you keep doing so, it’s going to get you killed someday.”
Kallie turned toward the door and shifted her bag on her back. “Let’s go in.”
We climbed the stairs to the tower. Marcus and Charlie were already sitting in the therapy circle. With one look at Charlie, I felt my entire body flush with rage.
