Page 32 of Touched By Death

“Fine.” As I rise to my feet, Dari stares at me as though I’m an alien.

“That’s it?” she asks.

“That’s it,” I confirm, striding past her on my way out.

Alaric intercepts me before I get to the door, blocking my only way out. “You’re making a mistake.”

“A mistake?” I point at the little witch on the bed, ignoring the way my heart gallops in my chest with regret at the sight of her tears. “She wants nothing to do with me, and it’s for the fucking best. She knows the truth now.” I peer over my shoulder and sneer at her. “I’m marrying Dari.”

Gritting her jaw, she looks down at her lap. Her hair slides forward to protect her from the venom in my words. I walk out without another backward glance.

DARIANA

“Fucking asshole,” I mutter, sitting down beside her on the mattress. The other males in the room hover, unsure what to do. I shoot them all a glare. “Can you leave us alone for a moment?”

“She’s coming with us,” Alaric bites out. “I don’t care about Daemon’s opinion.”

As they sidle out, I reach for her, but she slides her hand out of reach. Her rejection stings, but I guess I deserve it after all the shit I’ve put her through.

With a sigh, I pinch the blanket instead, shaping it into a point before smoothing it out. “We never meant to hurt you. The betrothal… It’s complicated.”

She sniffs, and I hate that her hair hides her from me. I want to be able to look her in the eye and let her see the truth.

“Daemon is looking for a way to get out of it.”

Still no response.

“He’s in love with you. We all are.”

Her brown eyes, glassy with tears, peer out from between the strands of her hair, and she inhales a ragged breath. “I can’t come in the way of whatever agreement or arrangement you have. I refuse to get in the way of Lucifer’s plans.”

“Lucifer’s plans?” I blurt, blinking at her. “What about what Daemon wants? What I want?”

“You don’t want me.”

“How the hell do you know that?” I growl, shifting closer on the bed.

When she looks up at me, the fire in her eyes stokes my own. “You have done nothing but push me away. I’m done, Dari. I’m so fucking done.”

Grinding my teeth, I stare at her. “So that’s it? Daemon is right to just walk away?”

Pain flickers in her eyes as she looks away and swipes at the tears on her cheeks.

“Is that what you want? For me to walk out that door and never talk to you again?”

Her head shakes, and she whispers brokenly, “No, that’s not what I want.”

“Then what do you want?”

Swallowing thickly, she flicks her gaze to me, staring at me for such a long moment, I wonder if I’ll ever be allowed to inhale a full breath again. “I want to stop feeling…”

“I can help with that,” I whisper, reaching for her, but she scrambles back.

Jumping out of bed, she stays a safe distance away. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then what did you mean?” Rising to my feet, I close the distance between us and reach for her trembling hand, pleased when she doesn’t immediately pull away.

Her softly spoken words, delivered with the venom of a deadly snake, strike without mercy. “I want to forget you.”

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