Page 16 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

“I don’t know what to say,” I responded, my voice rough. Desperate to make things right between us but not knowing how. “Only that I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.”

“Apologies mean very little.” His gaze narrowed at the sky. “Trust is hard to mend once it’s been broken.”

Hot prickles stung my chest. “I never wanted to upset you.”

“Yet, that’s precisely what you did.” The hurt in his eyes deepened. “You sat and listened to me tell you about the woman who helped kill my father, when all along, you have the same power she used to do it.”

“But I’m not like her, Onyx,” I said, emotions raw like my voice. “I would never hurt you.”

“No?” Onyx backed me up against the railing, bringing his unique scent of cedar and woodsmoke with him. “How am I to know you weren’t sent here by the humans as a ploy to trick me? To gain my favor, only to rip out my mana with your blue fire? To destroy me?”

The heat of his body did little to combat the chill in my bones. I was in equal parts hurt and pissed by his accusations. How could he be so… well, stubborn and ridiculous? Freaking demon lord.

“You honestly think I’m some evil, deceitful person sent here to kill you?” I asked, not sure which was greater: the urge to laugh at the silly idea or cry. “That I could ever hurt you or anyone else here in this realm?”

Emotion surged in his crimson eyes before he turned his face away. “I’m not sure what to believe, little bird. I spent the entire day thinking of you, my mind and heart in a constant battle. As I stand here with you now, I’m still uncertain.”

Little bird. The nickname usually gave me butterflies, but right then, it just made me feel like crying. How had things turned out like this?

“I’m still the same person, Onyx,” I said, the ache in my chest gnawing deeper. “Yes, I kept a secret from you. A big one. But you can trust me.”

“Can I?” There was a tic in his jaw. “I welcomed you into my realm, into my home, and vowed to protect you from the dark mercenaries and anyone else beyond that barrier who wished you harm. I even welcomed your lovers here and offered them that same protection. When all along, you were…”

“I was what, Onyx?” My chin shook. “This wicked, horrible person who deceived you?”

He steeled his expression. “Yes.”

“Was me being framed for poisoning the king and chased from my home also part of that deception?” I asked, fueled by a deep hurt I couldn’t fully process. “What about Lake? He almost died the night we came here. Do you seriously think I’d let him get hurt just to trick you?”

He stared down at me.

“What about the red spider lilies?” I added. “They symbolize fated mates, right? And they led me to you. If I’m only here to trick you, how did I see them?”

Indecision flickered across his face. “Briar has knowledge of the lily. He could’ve easily shared with you the demon legend about fated lovers beforehand. You then used it in your deception.”

“My deception,” I repeated, fighting the urge to thump him upside the head. “Lying about the lilies wouldn’t explain your feelings. You feel the connection between us. I know you do. You told me as much.”

“What I feel for you is of little consequence. Nor can those feelings be trusted.” A chill returned to his expression, several degrees colder now. “You said so yourself. You infuse magic into your cooking. Perhaps you’ve somehow put me under a spell, using your food to do it.”

I gaped at him. “You think I… what, gave you a love potion or something?”

“How else do you explain my draw to you?” he asked, his normally smooth voice taking on a sexy gruffness.

“I think that’s called love, Onyx,” I dryly said. “Fated mates, if you will.”

“You aren’t my mate.” His cold indifference bled into something raw, churning in his crimson eyes. “Nor do I love you.”

The words felt like a punch to the gut.

But a punch probably would’ve hurt a lot less.

“Tell that to the lilies,” I said, trying to ignore the sting in my heart. “You can lie to yourself all you want, but we are fated mates.”

“You’re nothing but an annoyance in my path.” He drew farther away from me, taking his woodsy scent with him. “Like a viper curled up in the grass waiting to strike.”

“Wow. So, I’m a rotten snake in the grass now?” I asked with a huff. “That’s the analogy you’re using?”

“I said nothing of you being rotten.” He arched a brow. “You put words in my mouth.”