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Antonio took a step back. He almost looked offended, if not hurt.Good,Sophia thought to herself out of anger.
“Poor girl?”
“Yes. It’s not common for werewolves to be mated to immortals from other species. For good reason.” She could add that to the list of reasons why she’d never have a chance with him. He was a werewolf, she was a fey. It could never work whether he had a mate or not.
“And whatgood reasonare you referring to?”
“Let me correct myself - for goodreasons.The list of reasons why werewolves shouldn’t find mates in any species except their own is practically endless.” She gave him a smug look. “Simply put - you’re more animal than man. Would you like me to list the reasons? Fair warning, it’s alonglist.”
Instead of exploding with anger, as Sophia expected, he appeared disappointed as comprehension hit him.
Damn, why did her heart twist at his reaction?
“No need to.” The obvious disappointment in his voice was killing her! What was he disappointed about? “Unfortunately, he isn’t the only one from our clan who was mated to someone from another species. My mate was a fey.”
Sophia was taken aback. She almost forgot about the time he told her his mate was of another species. But he never told herhis mate was afey!“What?” She tried to hold back her gasp, not wanting him to see her surprise. It was a good thing he was looking elsewhere, because she couldn’t stop herself from physically reacting to his words, her jaw dropping as if it had a mind of its own.
A fey? Like her?
Something sparked inside her, something that felt a lot like hope. But she worked on fizzling that spark out. He might have found his mate in the form of a fey, but the mate he found wasn’ther. Despite this revelation, she still could never be his.
“Yes,Fia.A fey.” He caught her eyes and didn’t break his attention, as if desperately waiting for her reaction. “Do you feel bad the unlucky fey who fate gave to me?”
“Uh.” She scrambled to get her thoughts together. In truth, she was envious of that fey. But she’d never admit that. “I’d say I feel…” Her voice trailed off when she noticed the distress on his face as he intently watched her. It was as if he…caredabout how she responded.
Maybe he did.
The hurt in his eyes led her to believe that he thought he wasn’t a good enough match for his mate. Maybe he needed another fey to tell him he was. She may be angry with him, but she couldn’t find it in her to deliberately make him feel any worse than he already did. “I feel like she’s incredibly lucky to have been matched with such a great man. A loyal man who I’m sure would stop at nothing to ensure her happiness.”
Just like how he didn’t seem to stop at anything to ensure Sophia’s safety.
“Those are kind words from someone who loathes me.”
“Now, now. Loathe is astrongword. Severe dislike sounds a lot better.”
He shook his head but seemed to relax, if only a bit. “You don’t actually think I’m a loyal man, and you’re right to think that.”
His sadness, clear as anything, unnerved her. He was hiding something about his mate. Something dark. Sophia had no idea what it was that he wasn’t telling her, but she could sense how very inadequate he was feeling. She had the urge to wrap her arms around him and assure him that hewasgood enough.
Sophia wondered if his mate was the reason behind his feelings of worthlessness, and the thought caused an unexpected rage to overwhelm her.
Wanting to protect his heart, she told him, “You’re wrong. I think you’re loyal. Your mate has been dead for years. No one can blame you for slipping up two hundred years after the fact. I said what I said because I was upset, and I’m sorry you had to see me acting like some raging lunatic. I guess you kissed the wrong girl.” She tried to laugh, hoping he would join in on her laughter.
He didn’t.
“I didn’t kiss the wrong girl.”
She shrugged in the most nonchalant way she could manage. “Let’s agree to disagree. Another woman wouldn’t have reacted so poorly. Just know, any man who loves a woman enough to sign up for a tournament as deadly as this one is a loyal man in my book.”
“Love?” His brows furrowed. “I never loved her. I didn’t know her long enough. She died soon after I met her.”
When Sophia’s eyes widened this time, there was no hiding it. He was looking directly at her. “Oh. I just assumed-”
“You assumed wrong.” His tone hardened, the sadness in his voice dissipating.
He didn’t even love the woman yet he was risking everything for her. Sophia realized mate hood wasn’t all the bells andwhistles she initially believed it was. She couldn’t imagine being so compelled to be with someone she hardly even knew. He desire to be with Casper was painful enough, but at least there were reasons why she wanted to be with him. Reasons beyond nature forcing her to want him.
“If you win, you’ll love her soon enough. And she will you.”
