Page 178 of Wrath of the Fae

‘He’ll come around, El,’ she soothes. ‘Try talking to him later.’

‘Steer clear of Lucca, would you?’ I ask them both, watching Rhea kiss her cheek. ‘You two may be happy that you have each other after all you have been through. But he’s been through hell, too, and he hasn’t got his Mate to comfort him. Try not to rub it in too much, yeah?’

My words are colder than I intended. I feel colder than I expected I would. Watching them together is beyond conflicting.

I love Lucca, and he is suffering hard. I love my sister, and she has been through hell.

Rhea pulls away from El and steps away, twisting her hands together uncomfortably. The look of misery on El’s face is clear.

‘You can’t tell me not to talk to him,’ she argues. ‘He’s my-’

‘Your what?’ I retort. ‘Your Mate? Friend? What is he to you? Because to him, you’re all he has lost in this world.’

She steps forwards, her head high.

‘And what is he to you,Pup?’ she snarls. ‘Not happy with two Mates, you want a third lover?’

‘El!’ Rhea hisses. ‘What is wrong with you?’

‘One word from her, you won’t hold my hand, and Lucca refuses to talk to me? Have you seen how Lucca looks at her? How he watches her?’ Her tear-filled eyes narrow on me. ‘Does Reid and Cyrus know you’re fucking Lucca?’

Her eyes flick behind me before I can spit my reply. Hypocritical bitch, considering she married my Mate!

I turn to see Reid and Cyrus reforming from their smoke and light. She instantly shrinks and steps back. They both glare at her. Then, they glare at me. Those around us step further away from them as they tuck their wings in at their backs, emanating anger. Wolf stops mid-step and turns, looking between us all. He seems to decide staying put is his best option, with his hand resting on his sword just in case.

‘Are we interrupting?’ Reid asks coldly, looking from her to me. ‘Is there a problem, El?’

‘No problem,’ I reply on her behalf. ‘Are they both secured?’ I ask him.

‘Yes,’ Cyrus replies, his mouth barely moving as he glares at El. ‘Don’t talk to her like that again, El. I’m warning you.’

‘Haven’t you seen the way Lucca is with her? Don’t you care that she’s-’

‘I’m sure your girlfriend isn’t happy about your jealousy over your ex,’ Cyrus retorts. ‘We trust our Mate. Focus on your own relationship.’

They all continue glaring.

I don’t have the time or patience for this, and Rhea is clearly upset at El’s jealousy.

‘Excuse me.’

I offer my hand to my sister, which she takes, and we stride through the main hall to where Tessa lingers at the door.

‘Quit smirking, would you?’ I snap at her.

‘Absolutely not,’ Tessa replies, enjoying every uncomfortable minute.

Wolf follows us.

Reid and Cyrus talk in whispers, maintaining several steps’ worth of distance.

I speak to Wolf.

‘How many of your fighters have had my blood?’ I ask.

I’ve been donating it for a while, and most, if not all, should have had it by now. We decided it best to protect them in case they were sent over to the human realm. Then they wouldn’t turn Dark, at least.

‘All,’ confirms Wolf. ‘Your power is needed to complete his machine, correct?’ Wolf says.

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