Page 88 of Kenna's Dragon

What if I’ve been wrong all this time?

The full impact of what that would mean slams into me. Gods, what would be worse, if Kenna isn’t my mate after all, or if she is and I’ve been keeping her at arm’s length, holding myself back from her, making her think…

“Blair,” Elias says. “What if Kenna really is your—”

This time, when the words come out I know they’re a lie. I don’t know what makes me say them, what makes it so damn hard to let myself accept the truth I should have held close and treasured since the beginning.

All I know is guilt is climbing up the back of my throat, and the walls feel like they’re closing in around me, and I want this damned kraken out of my office so I can think, make a plan, come up with some way to fix this.

“She’s not my mate.”

35

Kenna

“She’s not my mate.”

All the air is sucked out of my lungs, the room, the whole damn building as Ewan’s words ring out from the other side of the door.

No, not Ewan. Blair’s words.

That’s who’s talking right now, Director Blair issuing a command.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the last few days have been a living hell. I haven’t been able to sleep or eat or think right. I hung around the office an hour after work with the sole intent of coming up here and trying to get some time alone with him.

Just a few minutes. Just to make the ache in my chest go away.

When I got here, Ruthie’s desk was empty and the door to Blair’s office was slightly ajar.

I could hear voices from inside. Elias. Blair. Angry words being traded back and forth. All leading up to the one flat, harsh statement that makes me feel like the wind was just knocked out of me.

She’s not my mate.

I knew that already. I’ve known it since the very first day I met him. And yet standing here, hearing him say it like that, it makes that painful lump in the center of my chest crack and shatter into a thousand pieces. I slap a hand over my mouth to stop the broken sound that rockets its way up my throat.

I’m still standing just like that when a noise from behind me has me whipping around to see who’s there. Ruthie is standing near her desk, deep black eyes wide with concern.

“Kenna,” she whispers, having obviously just heard what I did.

I shake my head slowly. “It’s… I’m… I’ve gotta go.”

Without waiting for her to answer, I walk away from Blair’s office. Reaching the elevator, I step inside and press the button to take me to the lobby, when I hear it.

Blair’s voice. Raised and coming from somewhere nearby.

“Kenna.”

I’m frozen again, standing in the back of the elevator as I watch him cross the room in long, determined strides. His golden eyes are blazing, guilt and regret etched on his face, but it’s not enough to make me move.

Just before he reaches me, the elevator doors slide shut. The last thing I hear before they do is a harsh curse and the sound of a plastic button cracking as he presses it to keep the doors from closing in his face. He’s not fast enough, and as the elevator sinks my body loosens from its paralysis. I slump against the wall and try to control the panicked tempo of my breath.

She’s not my mate.

I knew this was coming.

From the very beginning.

I just didn’t expect it to hurt so much when it did.

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