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“Can you blame me? They say a jealous female is a terrible thing.”
“Jealous?” I asked. “You didn’t even love him.”
“Does that matter?” Lucia asked.
Zander shifted uncomfortably next to her.
Lucia and Zander were together. I tried to use that.
“It’s a crazy story,” I said. “Very well-thought out, too.”
Lucia looked pleased with herself.
“I can’t imagine how you managed it, being away from each other for so long, pretending to love someone else.”
“It was a part of the plan,” she said with a shrug.
“Sure, I get that. Ren had the enemy right next to him all this time. And you were soaking up all the love and attention he offered. You played the part so well, it was almost as if you felt something for him, too. You had me fooled. Did you sleep with Ren, too?” That last part left a sour taste in my mouth.
Zander was getting angry. It danced in the air like a hot breath. He clenched his jaw, and those dark eyes reflected fiery depths. That was what I wanted. His jealousy fueled his power. I sensed it. His magic was out of control. It wasn’t as precise as it had been before.
And fear came along with it. It trembled on my skin, shuddered down my spine.
I swallowed it down. “It takes a lot of love and trust to be together after you’ve belonged to another male for so long,” I said.
Lucia narrowed her eyes. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m just saying I know how easy it is to fall for Ren. He’s the male you can’t help but love. And you’ve been so closely involved with him. I’m surprised it didn’t hurt you to walk away.”
“Did it?” Zander asked, turning to Lucia.
“What are you talking about?” she replied. “Did what?”
“Did it hurt to walk away from him?” he elaborated. “Did you love him?”
“Of course not,” she scoffed. “You know what I was there for.”
“But you still got what you wanted while you were there. Win-win, right?”
Lucia stood, furious now, too. “What are you suggesting? That I’m not loyal to you? That I wasn’t faithful? We both knew what it would mean. We both understood the sacrifices we had to make to get what we wanted.”
Zander shook his head. This was turning into a full-on lover’s quarrel.
It was exactly what I wanted.
They continued to fight, magic rising, filling up the room, I shifted closer to the door. If they could keep going for a little longer, I could make a break for it. It would be even better if they didn’t notice I was gone for a while.
I almost reached the door when powerful hands grabbed my shoulders and yanked me back.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Zander sneered.
I turned around and shoved my palm upward into his nose. He staggered back, caught by surprise. Blood poured out of his nose, and he cursed a string of colorful words. His shock didn’t last. His training kicked in, too, and he blocked the next blow and countered it, paired with a wash of magic powerful enough to throw me to the floor.
I cried out, and Zander was on top of me. His hands wrapped around my throat, and this time, it wasn’t just magic that strangled me. He snarled at me, his bloodied face horrific, teeth bared, and those fiery eyes promising hell unleashed.
It was real, his skin against mine, his fingers strong.
I made gurgling sounds and clawed at his hands. I tried to kick him. I tried to find whatever magic I had in me, but I was in distress. My body was freaking out. My vision blurred, and I couldn’t think straight with the lack of oxygen anymore.
