Page 5 of Venomous Lies
Every lesson she’d taught me was branded in my mind, having become part of my psyche. On the outside, I might appear like I was okay, but nothing would ever make me matter.
My fist slammed into the tile as I gasped. Needing to focus on something besides the ghosts of my mother’s taunts, I tilted my head back, letting the water rain down on my face.
Maybe if I stayed here long enough, I would drown, then I wouldn’t be anyone’s problem anymore. Maybe then, I’d finally matter.
After all, an echo isn’t noticed until it’s gone.
Chapter 2
Isla
MONDAY
Echo seemed ethereal, somehowother, as he walked by with barely a glance in our direction. Even Wells froze as our friend passed by, his eyes fixed on the incubus until he was out of sight.
A long, resigned sigh escaped me before I took a sip of my hot tea.If only I could get him to listen to me…So far that has been a fruitless endeavor.
“He’ll come around,” Wells offered, making me focus on the witch beside me.
“It’s been a week, Wells. I never see him in the suite, which would be impressive if it wasn’t so damn frustrating. He won’t let me explain anything.”
“At least Aizel is on your side,” Wells pointed out. Leave it to Wells to be the positive thinker in this situation. I rolled my eyes at my friend, who offered me a small encouraging smile then a soft laugh at my response. The way his fluffy brown hair stuck up in all directions made me chuckle despite myself.
“Yeah…” I chewed my bottom lip. “Aizel seems worried, and as Aizel’s worry increases, the less it feels like we’re friends. I get it, but if Echo would just stop running whenever I try to talk to him… Ugh, it’s just so infuriating.”
In response, Wells just scooted closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. My body instinctively tensed, but he was determined to give me a brief hug to comfort me. Slowly, I accepted the contact, and when I did, it brought me back to the night the shit hit the fan.
I’d told Echo I had a mate, and no matter how insistently I tried to talk to him, he didn’t react beyond a few clipped answers before he walked out of my room.
Then Aizel stormed in, ready to protect his brother, but he stopped short at whatever he saw on my face.
“Isla?” The concern and shock in his voice made tears sting my eyes.
“You should go check on Echo,” I rasped. The words were nearly caught in my throat, and it took everything I had to hold it together.
“Tell me what happened,” he demanded. “This seems like more than just you turning down a date.”
“I didn’t get a chance to fully answer him,” I told him honestly. I wished we had fought, yelled, screamed— anything besides this damnable silence.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his tone so deadly serious my head shot up. I met the calculating stare of my friend who’d just finished scanning what bruises he could see.
“He didn’t hurt me, Aizel.” I attempted a smile, but when his distress only deepened, I knew I had failed. “But I hurt him, and I didn’t mean to. Go check on your brother.”
He didn’t move, though. Instead, Aizel’s warm hand gripped my chin, forcing me to look up and meet his hard gaze. His brow furrowed as his eyes intently searched my face, trying to discover all the things I hadn’t said. In a move that surprised me, hehugged me tightly. I winced when his arms hit the bruises under my shirt but hesitantly returned the hug.
“I’m glad you’re alive, witch,” he said gruffly, then he was gone.
Wells came into my room, saying he wanted to check on me. An attempt at a smile was all I managed. Given the growing concern on Wells’ face, I’d, apparently, failed just as badly as I had with Aizel.
“Isla?” Wells asked as he searched my expression for any clue of what was going on.
“I just... Echo asked me out,” I murmured. My voice was rough with the effort to keep my tears in check.
“You turned him down?” Wells asked carefully, trying to navigate the unknown situation.
“I’m mated,” I intoned, noting how his lips parted and eyes widened in shock. “I know... It just happened, likeliterallyjust happened, an hour or so after the rut ended. Echo asked me out, and I told him I’d have to ask before I could give him an answer?—”
“That makes sense.” Wells slowly nodded while reaching back to find my bed. He sat down as if standing up was too much effort. Today, I understood the sentiment all too well, though I remained standing. Something about having my feet on the ground helped me feel in control and together on some level. It felt less vulnerable to be standing while he sat beside me.
