Chapter 40: Chapter 40

~ NYSSA

I wasn’t sure how long I stood in the alley, heart pounding as I tried to make sense of everything that happened.

The moment played over again in my head, his scent around me, the feel of his body against mine and his lips.

I lifted my hand subconsciously, hovering over the spot his lips touched mine. They were much softer than I’d imagined. His touch was exploratory, gentle even. I found it hard to believe that someone as cruel as he was could be capable of such gentleness.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts.

My hands fell instantly, my cheeks burning bright, this time from embarrassment as I fished out my phone.

Aria’s name flashed across my screen and I winced.

I gave her my number earlier. She told me to call if I needed her and to stay close.

I’d forgotten all about her the moment Rowan approached.

Clearing my throat, I swiped right. “Hello?”

“Where the hell are you?” she asked, her voice barely audible over the noise in her background. “I’ve been looking everywhere. One minute you were within sight and now… you’re gone. If you get missing, I’ll be in so much fucking trouble.”

I forced an awkward laugh through my lips. “I’m fine, I needed a breather from the noise. I’m by some houses.”

I stepped out of the alley, shielding my face with my hands while I adjusted to the sudden brightness again.

While I was still adjusting, I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I cursed, jumping again as I turned and locked eyes with a slightly confused but moistly annoyed Aria.

Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead and here were tiny streaks of mascara at the corner of her eyes. She held a cup of what smelled like alcohol in her hands and I was reminded that a few minutes ago, I had a cup of my own.

I wasn’t sure where or when it fell, only that it was no longer in my possession.

“Of all the places to go, you picked the make out alley?” she teased, her hand on her lip. “That’s where kids go to suck face when they’re bored.”

That would explain the couple we saw earlier and their statement. They probably assumed that Rowan and I had gone there to…

“Didn’t you?” my wolf asked, her voice teasing. “You would have if they didn’t interrupt you.”

“I would have stopped it,” I said firmly.

She didn’t believe me, and honestly, neither did I.

Aria opened her mouth to speak but stopped at the last minute, leaned over to me and sniffed.

“I see you found Rowan,” she drawled, pulling back as she wrinkled her nose. “Please tell me he wasn’t an ass.”

I opened my mouth to speak, the tips of my ears heating up as I shut it back quickly.

I wasn’t sure how to answer that question.

Sure, walking away from me was a dick move, but what did I expect from him?

“I’m tired,” I said, quickly changing the subject. “Can we call it a night?”

Her mouth fell open. “The bonfire hasn’t even begun. There’s still so much to do.”

I shifted awkwardly on my feet.

I wasn’t sure that I could stay out here given everything that happened. I couldn’t shake Rowan out of my mind, and with every flash of memory came a wave of embarrassment so thick that it nearly brought me to my knees.

“I don’t mind going back alone,” I offered. “I just want to-”

“No, I brought you here. If you go, I go too. I just need to say goodbye to some people.”

“You really don’t-” I tried to stop her but she was already walking away.

I followed closely behind her, keeping a bit of distance as she said goodbye to some friends,

Once she was done, she led me over to the car, her eyes watching my movements with barely concealed curiosity.

She managed to stay silent until we got to the palace.

She’d barely put the car in park when she turned to me. “Did you at least have fun?”

I didn’t have to think much to come up with an answer. “I did.”

Before Rowan appeared, before the tryst in the alley, I was having fun. I felt more alive than I had in a long time, and for a moment, I wasn’t the Beta’s daughter or the scorned mate, I wasn’t even the King’s mate, I was just… Nyssa.

Her shoulders sagged in relief. “We should definitely do it again sometime.”

That earned a laugh from me. “Not too soon, I hope, or I’ll start to believe you like me.”

We parted ways as we got into the palace. She headed down the corridor I now recognized as leading to the kitchens while I headed up the stairs.

I passed by that same hallway that got me in trouble a few days ago when I smelled him.

A disbelieving scoff left my lips.

It was bad enough that he’d walked out on me without a word, but to go to his ex-girlfriend’s corridor straight after was diabolical.

Rage bubbled up inside of me, fueled by my embarrassment and shame, and without thinking, I stormed down the dark hall, following his scent until I got to that balcony where the easel sat.

He sat by the easel, eyes fixed on the unfinished painting, eyes filled with more emotion than I’d ever seen before.

“Are you fucking with me right now?” I spat, immediately gaining his attention.

“What are you doing here?” he asked but I ignored him.

“What kind of dick almost kisses a girl then seeks solace with his ex? You didn’t even-”

“What happened today was a mistake,” he cut me off sharply. “it won’t happen again.”

Everything stopped all at once.

The shame, the anger; it all bled away, leaving behind a numbness that settled on me like a weighted blanket.

I forced myself to remain neutral, willed my bones to remain upright. “Is that right?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “A car will be waiting in front of the palace at sunrise. It will to take you home. I think it would best if you got into it.”

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