Page 85 of Luna Rising

Following his lead, I stomped down the stairs making as much noise as vampirically possible. He sat on the couch with the pillow in his lap and his eyes glued to his cellphone. My steps faltered, and I almost asked if there had been more vampire attacks but decided not to go down that road.

I stood opposite him with my hands on my bare hips and feathers from the stupid pillow stuck to my body. “You don’t get to be mad at me.”

“I’m not.”

“Liar.”

Ewan finally looked up from his phone. “Not at you.”

“Then why did you stomp down the stairs?”

“That’s how I walk.”

“No.” I shook my head. “It’s not.”

“Zara, if you want to talk about why you’re upset, fine. Otherwise, I’m too tired to go back and forth with you over nothing.” He turned his attention back to his phone. “Let me know when you’ve decided.”

I gritted my teeth and swallowed the urge to stomp my foot. “Why did you lie to me?”

His shoulders tensed. “Care to be more specific?”

“How many things have you lied to me about?” I fired back.

Ewan pinched the bridge of his nose and then placed his phone face down. “I’m not answering that.”

I huffed, irritated. “About what it means to be Luna.”

Understanding dawned in his red eyes. “Ah, that. Right. You gonna put some clothes on or what?”

“No. Stop stalling.”

“Yeah. Okay.” He ran a hand through his hands, looking strangely resigned.

I had expected him to put up more of a fight, maybe deny it.

“I didn’t want you reading too much into it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Worried I would realize I’m just as powerful as you?” I demanded.

“No.” Rage burned me through the bond as his control snapped. “I was afraid you would run. Like before. That you would twist our bond into something evil or wrong. And don’t say you haven’t been thinking it. I know you’re conflicted. But look what happened when we stayed apart! Centuries of fucking agony for you, for me, for all supernaturals!”

He stood and hurdled the pillow sideways across the living room, sending his cellphone with it, unbothered when it shattered against the wall.

I stood perfectly still, not sure what to say and afraid of provoking him further. This was what I’d wanted, to incite his temper and force a fight, but I hadn’t expected this response. Ewan wasn’t just mad, he was hurt and scared of losing me. Again.

A part of me felt like I deserved his fury, while another part liked that he was yelling because it made me feel less guilty for rejecting him so long ago. I didn’t defend myself, which only made Ewan madder.

“Say something, Zara!”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, fuck that. You’re going to have to do better than that!” He anger thundered through the entire house.

“What do you want me to say? Yes, it scares me that my happiness could cost others theirs. Doesn’t that scare you? Don’t you think that’s unfair? And aren’t great leaders supposed to be selfless and shit?”

His eyes flashed dangerously. “I am nothing without you. How many fucking times do I need to say it? I am not a ruler without you. I am not the true alpha without you. Not because some fucking seer said so. Because I love you. I don’t need you for me to be whole or to realize my full power. I need you for me to exist at all. What happened in the Valley destroyed me, so I didn’t tell you what it really meant for you to be Luna because I couldn’t handle you rejecting me again.”

“I bonded with you. How else can I prove that won’t happen? You want me to tattoo your name on my ass? Rent a billboard? Make a video declaring it to the entire supernatural world? Maybe send it to some human news outlets for good fucking measure?” I threw my hands in the air. “What, Ewan? Tell me and I will do it!”

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