Page 18 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“That’s right.”
An uncertain smile tipped her lips up slightly. “I’ll write about this. About us. It’ll make for a good story.”
“Sure,” I said, wanting to keep her soft smile in place. “Write about us. I’ll wait for you between the pages of your book.”
Her eyes closed, and she pulled the image of the inside of her house again. Somehow, she pulled me into the image with her, and when she mentally reached her hand out to me, I held on to her as if my life depended on it. Together, we walked through her house—past the living quarters and through a narrow hallway I barely noticed because all I could see was her. Her friend was nothing more than a whimsy shadow who sat on the couch without noticing us.
When she drew us into her room, I led her to the bed where she sat on the edge. From where I stood in her room, I felt my uncle and friends rest their hands on my shoulders back at the store.
My magic swirled around us in a silver flame, and within seconds, I had all of us in our actual bodies in her room and her sitting on her bed.
She let the blanket I’d given her drop as she ran her hand over her covers.
I shuddered at what I had to do next.
Uncle Hudson looked at me with concern on his aging face. I shook it away, determined to focus solely on Teddy since this was the only interaction I’d ever have with her.
“You’ll do this?” I asked him.
He gave me a grave nod.
My heart hammered in my chest when I knelt in front of Teddy, the other half of my soul.
I took her hand in mine and watched her eyes open in surprise as I kissed each knuckle.
“You are my greatest weakness, and even after you forget me, I will look after you,” I swore.
Her brows knit together in confusion. “Forget you?”
I peered up at my uncle, who closed his eyes. The threads of his magic swirled around her as he used his magic to makeher mind sluggish so that this next part would be easier for her.
Her eyes grew hazy, her head heavy, making her sway. At that moment, her friend hurried into her room, all scrambling long legs like a fawn learning to walk. A creature followed her and bellowed out a strange but worried cry. Her friend let out a frightened gasp and started to shout what I’m sure was Teddy’s name. Although I tried not to pay attention to her, I knew one of my friends held on to Ryenne so she couldn’t run. Which I was sure would be yet another thing Teddy feared about me.
Ryenne let out a muffled shriek, and George yelped. Brenton took charge while George shook his hand out and glared at Ryenne while Everly drew the female’s hands behind her back and clasped them together.
“Teddy!” Ryenne shouted.
Teddy’s unfocused gaze turned to her curvy, yellow-haired friend, who stomped on Everly’s foot and shoved her shoulder against Brenton hard enough to shift his weight. I scented Teddy’s fear although she barely moved more than a small tick on her chin. Reaching inside me, I used my own magic to subdue her and tipped Teddy’s face back to me while my friends dealt with the other female.
Her eyes bounced across my face, but I felt the unease filter from her rigid shoulders.
At that moment, I hated myself more than she could ever fear me. More, I disgusted myself, but I had to calm her. Had to ease her pain and confusion. What I did next was the punishment I deserved. Not Teddy. I could never deserve Teddy, which was probably why the Guardians granted me a mate that I was never supposed to reach.
“Tell me you reject me, Teddy.” I ripped the words from my soul.
Her brows shot up, but when she opened her mouth, she said, “I reject you, Elias.”
Something beyond grief, beyond pain burned through me.
“You reject me as your mate.”
Her throat bobbed. “I reject you as my mate.”
I wanted to roar, to scream until my throat was raw. But nothing came, not even tears. Fear like nothing I’d ever felt before sliced into my heart. With all these emotions running through my mind, I felt myself fall into a dark void I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to claw my way out of.
At that moment, I knew nothing was left of me.
I squeezed her hand, and when I stood, I kissed her temple—allowing myself to linger before I left her.
