Page 117 of Wrath

No. Not that.

Anything but that.

The robed figure turned towards me. “Do you refuse?”

I sucked in a scorching breath as fear wrapped its fingers around my heart and squeezed.

“I can’t,” I whispered, my gaze trained on Z, wanting her to see the apology in my eyes. She would hate me if she learned the truth. “I can’t.”

I watched Z so intently that I saw the exact moment one of the stalactites fell from the ceiling and landed directly in Z’s hand.

THIRTY-NINE

RYLAND

The scream Z released would haunt me until the day I died.

I couldn’t peel my gaze away from the craggy rock piercing Z’s flesh, blood oozing from the wound.

“No,” I breathed through numb lips.

“Do you still wish to refuse?” The robed figure turned towards me, and though I couldn’t see his face, I had a feeling he was smirking sardonically, relishing the chaos.

Or maybe that was my imagination, because despite his words, his tone remained monotone, almost bored.

Vomit crawled up my throat.

Because of my cowardice—my refusal to reveal the truth—I’d hurt my mate.

I had no choice.

I had to tell her my deepest, darkest secret and hoped she forgave me in the end.

A burning heat prickled at my eyes as I forced myself to lift my head, forced myself to meet Z’s pained gaze.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

Sorry she got hurt when I could’ve stopped it. Sorry I kept this a secret from her. Sorry I was going to tell her the truth and potentially ruin everything between us.

“Ryland…” She gritted her teeth in pain but met my eyes with steely determination. “Whatever it is, we’ll get past it. Together. I love you.”

“I don’t want you to fall out of love with me,” I whispered, trembling.

Z shook her head adamantly. “That will never happen.”

She sounded so sure of herself, yet…

She didn’t know the truth.

No one did.

It was a secret I thought I’d buried years and years ago, along with the bodies that had caused my scars.

“Will you tell your mate the truth?” The robed figure turned towards me, expectation lingering in the air between us, and I sucked in a breath.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, I’ll tell her the truth.”

“Ryland, it’s okay.” Z forced a wobbly smile. “It’s okay.”

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