Page 69 of Fated By Fire

“Well, maybe if you and your clan hadn’t been manipulating my family for generations, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

His eyes narrow. “What are you talking about?”

I snatch up the journal from the table and thrust it toward him. “This. My mother’s journal. Turns out Malakai was meeting with her before she disappeared. Pressuring her. She was terrified, Caleb! Did you know about this?”

He falters for a moment, genuine confusion flickering across his face. “I had no idea.”

“How convenient,” I snap. “First, you keep me in the dark about who—what—you really are. Then I find out your people have been hunting mine. Using us. And now you’re angry because Mara exposed the truth?”

His fury reignites, eyes flashing. “That video puts us all in danger. My clan. My family. Do you have any idea what could happen if humans decide to hunt us again?”

I throw my hands up. “Oh, so it’s fine when your kind hunts mine, but the moment the tables might turn, you play the victim?”

“It’s not the same, and you know it.”

“I don’t know anything anymore!” I shout, the words echoing in the small space. “Except that my mother is gone because of you. Because of your clan’s secrets and lies.”

He takes a step closer, tension radiating off him in waves. “Don’t you dare put that on me!”

“Why not? It’s the truth. You said that Malakai just went rogue. But he’s been pulling this shit for years. How could you not have known that? Beeninvolvedwith that?”

“I have no idea,” he snaps. “Do you think I’m happy to admit it?”

“No,” I snap back. “Which is why I don’t believe you.”

“You’re trying to derail this conversation with this bullshit.” His jaw tightens. “Your friend just endangered my entire species!” His voice reverberates, a growl underlying his words. “Do you understand that?”

“And your familyusedmine!” I snap back. “Used my mother, and now they’re after me.”

We stand there, both breathing hard, the air between us thick with accusation and hurt. The connection I felt before—the strange, compelling pull—is still there, but now it feels like it’s tearing me apart. Every angry word, every glare cuts deeper because of it.

A sharp pain bursts in my chest, and I know he feels it, too. His expression falters, a flash of something vulnerable breaking through the anger.

“This bond,” he says quietly. “It’s making this worse.”

“Bond?” I narrow my eyes on him. “You mean this freakish connection I have with you?”

He nods. He doesn’t look pleased. “Yes. That.”

I swallow hard. “I feel it, too. But it doesn’t change anything.”

He closes his eyes briefly, as if steeling himself. “Maybe… maybe this was a mistake.”

I flinch, surprised by how hard the words hit. “What do you mean?”

“This,” he gestures between us. “Us. It’s compromised everything. I can’t protect my clan if I can’t think straight.”

I stare at him, numbness spreading through me. Then anger takes hold again. “I don’t know what ‘us’ you’re talking about. We fucked a couple of times. Big deal.”

His expression shutters. “If that’s what you’d call it, then sure. There’s no us.”

“So off you go, then.” I wave a hand. “Go take care of your clan. Protect them from big, bad Mara’s TikTok reels.”

His expression darkens further. “It’s not that simple. This isn’t a joke, Elena.”

“Seems pretty simple from where I’m standing,” I say bitterly. “But fine. I’m done being your prisoner, anyway.”

I turn on my heel, grabbing my duffel bag from the floor and stuffing the journal inside. My hands shake, but I force myself to move, to act.

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