Page 145 of Enchanted

“There’s one thing I don’t understand,” I said slowly, replaying the memory in my mind. “Why’d you tell me we were mates and then compel me to forget?”

“Because I’m selfish,” he said bluntly. “I knew you were with someone else, but for a few minutes, I wanted you to know the truth. That you belonged with me.”

“Then why’d you compel me?”

He sighed, nodding towards the path. “Come on, it’s probably best if we move while I tell you the next part. I always get twitchy when I talk about Gloria.”

By the time he was done, I was twitchy too, practically bristling with rage at what this Gloria had put Sam and Ezekiel through. “What a fucking bitch.”

“That’s one way to put it. But that’s why I made you forget. If she got wind that you knew and weren’t my mate then she would’ve done something similar.”

I frowned. “I still don’t understand. Surely taking that risk would’ve been better than me not knowing who you were to me?”

“Better for me, sure. But not you. Not while you were with Dave.”

“Fucking Dave,” I grumbled. “If he’d had the balls to break up with me earlier, this wouldn’t have been an issue.”

“I’d really like to kill him.”

I laughed before realising he was serious. The sound died as he stared at me. “Rami, you can’t. That’s…”

“It’s how I feel,” Rami said roughly, wiping a hand over his face. “I told you we’re vengeful. The man left you alone when you needed him and cheated on you. I’d have ended his life just for breaking your heart.”

“He didn’t do that though.”

“No, what he did was worse,” Rami said bluntly. “I want to throttle him, quite literally.”

I felt the blood drain out of my face. “No, you can’t.”

“I know.” Rami palmed the back of my neck, pulling me close. “I know you wouldn’t want me to do that.”

“It’s not that I care about him,” I said, trying to search for the right way to express my thoughts. “I don’t. But we did share some good times before everything went to shit. I don’t like Dave, but I don’t want him to die. He has family who love him. Friends. A full life. Why should he lose it just because he fucked things up with me?”

“Because he hurt you, baby.” Rami sighed. “But you don’t need to persuade me. Dave’s safe from me.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” He cocked his head to the side quizzically. “I might want to hurt him, but doing so would hurt you. I’ll never do that, Ethan.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you…” Rami hesitated before finishing his question. “Do you think you’ll speak to him again? Get closure or anything like that?”

I considered it before shaking my head. “Nah. Think I got all the closure I needed seeing him with someone else. Deep down, I can sort of understand that he thought he was doing what was best for me, but he should’ve told me the truth the second I was given the all-clear. That, I can’t forgive him for.”

“I won’t judge you if you change your mind,” Rami said lightly. “I’ll support you whatever you choose.”

“I choose you,” I said. “Every day, Rami. Your happiness comes above everything. Speaking to Dave will give him closure, not me. You’re the one I care about, not him.”

He blinked rapidly. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Putting me first,” he rasped. “No one’s ever done that before you.”

My poor, sweet, angel. He deserved the world and more. I was determined to give it to him. “You better get used to it, Rami, because I’ll be doing it every day.”

Chapter 40