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I muster an inhale and slowly let it out, a flash of anger emerging inside of me. It sometimes happens in dark moments, and then I lose control, do stupid things, and get punished for it. With my mother, the punishments are usually mind games. With my father, it’s a slap and a kick, depending on his mood. When the guys and I were younger and I’d snap at them, they’d ignore me for like five minutes before forgiving me, sometimes even when I didn’t apologize. They always had a sweet spot for me. But that sweet spot morphed into a cavity overnight.
“Move out of my way, Reece.” My tone shows that the monster is clawing at the surface.
He shakes his head. “Not until you tell me exactly what happened between you and Trystan.”
I breathe in and out, trying to stay calm. “For the tenth time, that’s none of your damn business.”
“It kind of is, though. I mean, you’re my fiancée, and I just caught you in here, messing around with some fucking stoner …” He rubs his lips together as he opens and flexes his hands, looking more riled up than I’ve ever seen him. “I want to know how much of you he touched.”
At first, I merely blink at him. I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Reece always says whatever the hell he wants.
I hastily collect myself. “I’m not telling you that. And I don’t know how often I have to say that before you get it through your thick skull.”
He leans in so closely that his breath dusts my cheeks. “And I don’t know how many times I have to say that it is my goddamn business because you’re my fucking fiancée.”
“Not by choice,” I grit out with my hands balled at my sides.
I’m about to hit him, and if I do, the consequences will be bad. Maybe that’s what I want—to let the bad come because I’m tired of waiting for it.
He sucks in a breath then releases it. “But it’s still true. You don’t have a choice in this, baby. The ceremony is going to happen, and there’s not a damn thing anyone can do to stop it.”
His words carve across my wrist like cuffs. It hurts to hear—to hear the truth, for him to confirm what I already knew but didn’t want to fully admit to myself yet.
That in three days, I will be fated to him, Blaise, and Ryder.
That nothing will stop it.
That the guys won’t stop it.
That they aren’t my friends anymore.
I know this and have for a few years now, but for some reason, it still hurts.
“You want to know the truth?” I say in a shaky tone. “The truth is that I already know that. It’s why I came here tonight—to lose my virginity onmyterms because I’m not going to go into this stupid fate ceremony an innocent virgin so the three of you can tag team me on our wedding night.”
His breathing is the only noise I can hear, soft brushes against my ear.
“You really think that?” he finally says, slanting back and looking me in the eye. “That we’d do that to you if you didn’t want to?”
“I know how fate ceremonies work.” My tone is cringingly shaky. “I grew up in the same world as you, so I heard the same stories.”
A crease forms between his brow. “But we’re not like everyone else.”
I snort a laugh. “Really? Because the last three years suggest differently.”
A frown forms on his lips. “I—” He stops whatever words he’s about to say from leaving his lips. “You really came here to lose your virginity? To a guy like Trystan?”
I shrug. “Not necessarily a guy like Trystan. Any decent-looking guy would’ve worked.” I’m all bravado at the moment. I can’t stand that my body reacts this way just because I’m talking about sex.
He leans over me, his face masked, his hands wandering toward my legs. I want to scream, but my mind is so foggy—
I tear myself from the memory. I’m not going there tonight.
“If we’re done here, I’m going to go have fun.” I attempt to leave for the third time. And for the third time, he steps in my way. I pinch the brim of my nose. “Just let me have this one night, okay?” I lower my hand and hope to God that maybe, just maybe, he’ll be the Reece I used to know.
But I’m a stupid, stupid girl.
He offers me a remorseful look. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that. Not only for your sake, but for the sake of the poor bastard who would’ve ended up screwing you.”
