Page 61 of Twisted Fate

“Hey.” She presses her lips together as if she’s trying not to smile. “Nice singing.”

Tristan chuckles.

I stand there, staring at them both. Aware of my lack of clothing, I grip the towel tighter around me and look between them. “Do I even want to know?” I ask.

Tristan looks like he’s about to pounce on me. The dark, intense focus in his eyes makes my heart pound and the heat between my thighs pulse.

“Tristan told me that Evan came here and talked to you.”

I force my eyes to shift over to Allison. “Yeah.”

“Sorry I wasn’t here.” She keeps her eyes on me, as if she’s too scared to look at Tristan now that we’re talking about Evan. “Look, I know no one trusts him, butIdo.”

Tristan chuckles again, but his jaw is hard.

“Like you’ve never wanted something you shouldn’t? Something your people don’t agree with?” Allison’s cheeks flush quickly, and her eyes widen, knowing she said something she shouldn’t have.

Tristan’s eyes shift to me, and I shake my head.

Knowing she’s made a mistake, Allison grabs her bag off the end of her bed and hurries out of our room, leaving me standing before Tristan in nothing but a towel.

Tristan sits on the end of my bed and waits for me to come back out of the bathroom, this time with clothes on. I comb my fingers through my hair while he sits there, watching me without a word. I’m not sure why he’s here, but it’s clear that he has no plans to leave yet.

I walk around the small room in quick, unmeasured strides, tidying things here and there.

“You’re pacing,” Tristan comments in a calm voice.

I ignore him, busying myself in case that might keep me from having to talk to the fae leader still sitting on my bed. I guess I should be grateful he let Allison leave, especially after she snapped at him, clearly defying his position—and fae law.

Tristan catches my wrist as I pass by him and holds it in a gentle grip, stopping me from whizzing around. “Aurora, come sit for a minute, please. You’re making me dizzy.”

I peer down at his fingers wrapped around my wrist, where my pulse is humming with the energy of being so close to him. “She’s not going to stop seeing him, no matter what you say. She could get hurt, and there’s not a damn thing I can do.”

Tristan lets go of my wrist and slips his fingers through mine. “This isn’t your fight, and she’s not your responsibility.”

I sit beside him. “She’s my best friend. You guys are going to war, and I have no idea what’s going to happen. It seems like she’s not even concerned about the consequences of her relationship. Why would she risk that for one person?”

“You’d be surprised what some people would do for one person.”

I sigh. “Are you really going to throw her in prison?”

He turns toward me and our eyes meet. “Are you asking me to let her break one of our laws?” He regards me with a thoughtful expression. “I can’t do that, Aurora. I’m sorry.”

I nod, understanding he’s looking at the bigger picture. He has the responsibility to take care of his people, and until proven otherwise, Evan is a threat.

Thrusting my fingers through my still-damp hair, I blow out a breath. “You haven’t told me why you’re here.”

He wets his lips. “I’ve been looking into your family history.”

“As most stalkers do,” I quip, trying to lighten the mood in hopes that will ease the tendrils of anxiety wrapping around me.

His eyes glimmer. “You wanted more information, so I did some research.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “You’re saying you did this for me?”

“Yes, and because of my own interest in the matter.”

“Okay.” I glance at the floor, wiggling my toes. “What did you find?” I’m terrified to hear the answer. It seems crazy to think that I have fae ancestors, but after the way Tristan’s blood affected me, it’s hard to deny my family’s past.

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