Page 139 of May: Bloom & Bane

What are you doing? I ask.

Taking her home. Where she’ll be safe.

The emphasis on that last word, the implication that she’s not safe with me, makes something crack inside my chest.

From me?

If necessary, he says coldly, his wings unfurling. Yes.

You think I would hurt her? I ask incredulously.

I think you already did, he snaps, launching into the air. You took her somewhere that caused her body to start shutting down. So yes, Ashán. I’m taking my mate home and keeping her away from⁠—

Your mate?

He doesn’t respond, and the rage flooding through my blood is vicious.

She’s my mate too, I snarl. Or did you conveniently forget that part?

Right now? I don’t care, he sighs. All I care about is getting her somewhere safe. Away from you.

You think you can just… take her away from me?

Watch me.

Something inside me snaps, and my fangs lengthen painfully.

You think because you’re the one flying right now, you have all the power?

I think you need to quit talking.

I think you⁠—

You almost killed her! He screams.

I didn’t! I roar. She’s fine. She’s sleeping because she’s exhausted from YOUR six-hour rut, not because of me.

Her heart nearly⁠—

In the void, physical bodies react differently. I didn’t know it would affect her that way. But she was never in danger, Sage. I would never— My voice cracks. I would never hurt her. She is everything to me.

What would you do if I dragged Eden into a place you couldn’t follow, Ashán?

The question ignites something bitter inside me.

You do! I scream. There are times I can’t feel her! Times I have to fight with every ounce of my strength just for my voice to get through to either of you.

What are you⁠—

You think I don’t know what it’s like to be helpless? To watch you touch her, taste her, hold her, while I’m trapped in the back screaming to be let out? You think I don’t know what it feels like to be separated from her?

That’s not the same, he murmurs.

Is it not? I snap. You get to hold her whenever you want. You get her smiles, her laughter, her body responding to your touch! And I’m here, a vreshing passenger, begging for scraps of contact!

My rage bleeds into something rawer.

I pulled her into the void because it was the only place I could have her soul to myself while you took her body! The only place where it could be just us! I wasn’t depleting my energy fighting you for every second.