Page 140 of House of Ruin
“I understand you’re hurt and your ego is bruised,” Alecto said through clenched teeth. Blaze sneered. “But how about you drop the fucking attitude and be honest with me. I know you didn’t mean what you said last time—”
“I meant every word.”
Alecto shoved at his chest again. “No, you did not. I know you now, Blaze. You can hate me for it, deny it as much as you want, but Iknowyou. And all that nasty shit that comes out of your mouth when you’re hurt means absolutely fucking nothing.”
Blaze’s grip on her throat tightened, making Alecto’s heartbeat speed up.
“You are a fucking curse,” Blaze whispered, his voice rough. He leaned his forehead against hers. “A fucking curse.”
Alecto braced her palms flat on his chest. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Did you know that after Demitria left Galliermo, he made a deal with the Imp Queen?” Blaze said. “He fucking sold his soul, that’s how much fucking damage your mother did.”
Alecto shook her head. “Galliermo is soulless?”
That would explain his cruelty… Could Alatar be the same?
“He fucking is,” Blaze said, his voice filled with barely controlled fury. “I truly underestimated you, as a half-breed. But it seems your lineage of women is like a plague to whoever crosses your path.”
Another wave of anger surged through Alecto.
How dare he?
“Fuck you,” she spat. “Don’t you fucking dare blame my mother for your father’s cruelty. She didn’t push him to go seek out the Imp Queen. She didn’t force his hand when he signed his soul away for a money. He was the one who made those choices, and it’s on him, not on her. Regardless of whether she broke his heart or not.”
Alecto grabbed his hand still resting around her throat, peeling his fingers away from her skin. “You can sit here and blame me for hurting you. Hel, you might go make a deal with the Imp Queen herself if that’s gonna make you feel better.” Alecto’s cheeks were burning with anger. Blaze wasn’t letting go of her. “It’s fucking pathetic.Youare fucking pathetic, skulking around as if you didn’t deserve what I had planned for you.”
She thrashed and pushed against his grip, but it was ironclad. Blaze just stood there, staring at her mouth with his hand pressed tight around her neck.
“Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, feeling angry at me for trying to hurt you,” Alecto continued, “why don’t you fucking sit with yourself and think about how your past actions influenced everything that happened to you recently, huh?”
Finally, Blaze let go, taking a step away from her.
Alecto almost lost her balance at the sudden release, but she gathered herself quickly enough not to lean on him.
She fixed her uniform skirt, lifting her chin high. “And while you’re at it, why don’t you fucking think about what is it that you truly want from me,” she said, her voice shaking now. Blaze lifted his gaze to look her straight in the eye. “I meant it when I said that I want you. All of you. Without the games, the lies, the pretending.”
She paused to swallow a lump rising in her throat. “This is the last time I’m opening myself up to you this way. I’m not going to beg. I’m not going to listen to any more of your empty insults. If you truly meant what you said back at the police station, you’ll find a way to get over your anger at me and be with me. And if not…” Alecto paused, looking him over. “Good luck drowning in your own misery and self-pity until it fucking kills you one day.”
Alecto didn’t wait for him to answer. She pushed past him and left his room, slamming the door behind her.
49
When Alecto got back to her bedroom from the confrontation with Blaze, her whole body was shaking. But she had to put their personal drama to the side because ahead of her, she had more important matters to tend to.
She walked over to her desk and fished out a piece of paper from the first drawer. With a pencil, she quickly scribbled a message to Norse and folded the paper.
“Severulsi,” she murmured to herself, and the folded paper vanished from her palm.
Now she only had to wait for Norse’s response.
They hadn’t talked since the Snakes’ party when she disappeared with Blaze and then they had the truth or dare game that revealed Bea’s betrayal. Alecto hoped Val was right about Norse’s interest and that it hadn’t changed in the past few days despite her leaving him hanging at the party.
While she waited for his response, Alecto changed from her school uniform into a simple black turtleneck and straight black pants.
She put on comfortable combat boots just in case she needed to run. And from her coat closet, she picked out a warm aviator jacket.
While getting dressed helped keep her occupied, she was still feeling on edge from the conversation with Blaze and from the anticipation of what was to come with Norse.
