Page 191 of Untamed

Bianca steps back, slowly. Her eyes linger on me like she’s trying to memorise the man she’s pleading with...before he turns into the monster everyone warns her about.

She disappears inside.

And I stand there, alone, swallowed by silence and stone.

Let her go? I already tried. But some things, some people, don’t loosen their grip.

They bury themselves so deep, you forget where you end and they begin.

And Jordyn? She’s already under my skin. And I don’t think I want her out.

The second she’s gone, I nearly collapse against the wall, my breath ragged and uneven.

Letting her go?

No one understands.

That would kill me faster than any bullet.

Something is wrong.Terribly wrong.

Ares doesn’t even look at me.

Just barrels past, his shoulder grazing mine, a storm in human form. I freeze, clutching the book in my hands tighter as I watch him disappear down the corridor, his footsteps heavy, unrelenting.

“Ares?” I whisper, even though he’s already gone.

No answer. Not even a glance back.

The air he leaves behind is colder somehow. Thicker. Like whatever he’s carrying bled into the walls.

I stand there a moment longer, heart pounding for reasons I can’t explain. Something’s definitely wrong. Ifeltit in the way he moved, the tension carved into every line of his body. I know he said he wanted us to act normal, but that wasn’t normal. That was...ice cold.

I take a slow breath and walk toward the nearest window. He’s outside now, pacing across the courtyard like he’s trying not to explode. I see his back stiffen, then Bianca steps into view.

They’re talking. I don’t have to think too hard to figure out what.

I can’t hear the words, but I see the way Bianca folds her arms, the way Ares turns his head just enough to avoid looking at her. His hands flex at his sides like he’s holding something back.

Then he looks up.

For a second, I think he’s seen me watching.

But he turns away again, his features grim.

My stomach twists painfully.

Whatever that was… it wasn’t nothing.

And suddenly, I’m not sure if I should go back to my room or run after him.

Instead, I go and find Bianca. I won’t rest until I know what they were talking about. I find her in the hallway near the kitchen, her fingers wrapped around a glass of water like she needs something to hold onto.

“Bianca.”

She looks up, startled. “Hey. You scared me.”

I step closer. “What were you and Ares talking about?”

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