Page 102 of The Edge of Never

“Me? Am the one who got lost in those mountains with Kit. The person they’ve been staying with tae recover from it.”

Sienna looked me up and down like I was nothing but a piece of dirt on her shoe.

“Funny that Flynn didn’t mention you when he told me Kit went missing.”

I assumed Flynn was Kit’s father. They’d never mentioned his name.

“It doesnae really matter who I am. What does is the shite ye’ve said tae Kit.”

“I only stated the truth.”

I stepped towards her, forcing her to give ground. I wanted her away from Kit, so she couldn’t hurt them any longer.

“The only truth here is that ye’re a selfish cunt. How fucking dare ye come here and expect them tae bend tae yer will after they told ye they didnae wannae see ye. Dae ye no understand the word, no? Or are ye tae fucking up yer own arse, ye cannae listen tae a word anyone else says?”

Her mouth flew open.

“And ye have the fucking gall tae call Kit by their deadname, knowing why they hate it. Dinnae even get me started on ye fucking misgendering them and making them feel like they’re worthless. If ye fucking listened tae them for one minute, ye’d know they went through hell when they were pregnant. Ye’d know they suffered gender dysphoria, but ye’re so wrapped up in yer own self-interest that ye didnae even see yer friend crying oot for help. Ye didnae see the pain they were in. No, ye see Kit as less than fucking human, dinnae ye? Just a tool for ye tae use and discard when ye’re done with them.”

I took another step towards her. I didn’t care if I was intimidating Sienna, nor did I feel the pain in my ankle. All I could focus on was making sure she knew what she’d done to Kit.

“Well, that’s no happening anymore. Ye dinnae deserve tae be anywhere near them. Ye dinnae appreciate Kit for who they are, but I dae. I see how fucking amazing they are. And am no gonnae let ye dim their light any longer. Get the fuck oot of mah hoose and the fuck oot of Kit’s life. Never contact them again or I’ll hunt ye the fuck doon and make ye understand why ye messed with the wrong person, ye hear? Am no joking. Ye’re no allowed within ten feet of them again.”

Sienna stood there, clearly shell-shocked by what I’d thrown at her. Well, I didn’t give a fuck. She deserved worse, but I was holding back for fear Kit would get upset with me for shouting at their friend.

“Leave or I’ll fucking make ye.”

She tried to look behind me at Kit, but I stepped into her eyeline, making myself bigger.

“Are you going to let him speak to me like that?”

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at her. Then I felt a hand on my arm as Kit came to stand next to me.

“You should leave, Sienna,” they said in a quiet voice.

Kit’s eyes were on me. I could feel them, but I didn’t look down. I kept my gaze on Sienna, waiting for her to move.

“I always knew you were a coward, Kit. Cowering behind a man because you can’t handle anything by yourself. Consider me gone from your life. Who would want to be friends with such a spineless bitch, anyway? I only kept you around because I felt sorry for you. Well, more fool me.”

Sienna spun on her heel and walked out. I would have given her hell for what she called Kit if she hadn’t gone. But it didn’t stop my anger. It didn’t stop the rage from swelling inside. Sienna was so much worse than Kit made out. Then again, I was pretty sure Kit had rose-coloured glasses on when it came to their friend… well, hopefully ex-friend now. And I need them to take those glasses off. For them to see Sienna for what she really was. They deserved so much more than to be treated like they were nothing.

My hands clenched into fists as the car peeled out of my driveway and back down the track. I had to get my rage out somehow before I spoke to Kit. I didn’t want to take it out on them, but by fuck did I want to hit something until my fists bled. That wouldn’t do me any good. So I would go do the next best thing and deal with my anger the only way I could.

Thirty Three

Kit

Thane stood next to me, his chest heaving after he laid into Sienna for what she said to me. After she used the name she knew I hated more than anything.

I stared up at him. This beautiful man who protected me and called me amazing. No one had ever come to my defence that way before. No one had threatened to go after someone for me if they didn’t do as they were told. That shouldn’t be as hot as it was. In fact, I should probably not be feeling like I wanted to jump on him and kiss him for all he was worth. But I was so awestruck by Thane that I couldn’t help myself.

“Fuck,” he ground out before he pulled his arm out of my grasp, stomped over to the door, shoved his feet into a pair of shoes and stormed out of the house.

I stood there for a second, wondering where the hell he was going. Then I chased after him.

He walked down the steps with determination in his stride. I stayed on the deck as I hadn’t put any shoes on. He made his way around the side of the house. When I walked around the corner, I found him picking up an axe that was leaning up against the deck. He stood next to what looked like a woodshed with a large slice of a tree trunk in front of it. Thane then propped a log up on the trunk before bringing the axe down and chopping it. He did it again and again, leaving a messy pile of chopped wood around the trunk.

I rubbed my arms, feeling the cold seeping into my bones.

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