Page 30 of Caged Love

“August, calm down,” Astrid says, which only pisses me off further.

She doesn’t get to tell my mate to calm down!

Now, I’m more upset than angry, and I just want to be alone.

“You know what? I’m not done. I’m going to go and get that Vampire Prince I fucked a few months ago…” I zip away, needing a moment before I do something else stupid like actually bringing that vampire back here.

I end up in our spot in the gardens where we sat yesterday.

It was a simpler time.

Magic explodes out of me, lessening my tension, and I feel a lot better. I get like that sometimes, like the magic I take from others becomes too much pressure and needs an outlet.

We should have been each other’s firsts.

But he didn’t wait for me, and I sure as hell didn’t wait for him.

Knowing it, though, and seeing who he has been with are two different things.

Astrid is stunning, and so is Pandora.

And I’m older than all of them.

“I’m sorry, Milana. I know how uncomfortable you must have felt. Trust me, I’ve been there,” comes Astrid’s soft voice from behind me. She walks over and sits next to me.

“I shouldn’t have done any of that,” I admit with a sigh. “I’m not proud, trust me.”

She laughs softly. “You don’t need to be sorry around any of us, believe me. I know how our relationship must look like from an outside perspective, and I completely understand if you want August to have nothing to do with me.”

“He even has a pet name for you… Star. I heard him when you came down to the dungeons.”

“A childhood nickname. I know August, and I’m a seer. I can see his path. If you wanted him to walk away from all of us, he would. He probably would have joined the rebellion if he had to, to be with you. You have all the power with him. I’m his friend, one he shares a lot of history with.” She plays with the end of her braid. “He has taken care of me since both of our parents died, and finally seeing someone give that back to him is all I could have ever dreamed. I love you for him, and I would love to be both of your friends if you’ll let me.”

“I’d like that. You know, I never knew I was the jealous type until I met him,” I grumble.

She smiles, her eyes bright. “Our mates tend to bring that out in us. August is usually the calm one. He’s never had a big ego or anything like that. And he’s one of the more mentally stable ones out of the lot.”

“Milana! If there’s another fucking male out there with you, I’m going to drain his magic until he’s dead!” we hear August roar.

“Well, maybe I spoke too soon.” She smirks, lowering her voice to a whisper, “You know I’m curious about the merman cock situation too.”

I burst out laughing.

She leaves before August appears, pulling me against his chest and stroking my back. “I love you, Milana. I don’t give a fuck about any other woman. You want to leave here, just you and me? I’ll do that. You’re all I need.”

I realize then that Astrid was right.

He would walk away from it all for me.

He has a past, we all do, but at the end of the day, August ismine.

And that’s all that matters.

Chapter Sixteen

I feel like the worst mate alive.

I know I’m asking a lot from her—I even tried to kill that asshole merman when she left, but he went invisible.Of course, that’s his magic.

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