Page 6 of Hateful Prince

“And then?”

This time, his smile was a malicious twist of his lips.

“Then I intend to make them pay.”

Chapter

Three

DAHLIA

“How are you feeling this morning, Dahlia?”

I couldn’t help the smirk that twisted my lips at the rather stereotypical opening. How did I answer this question? If we were talking about my body, I’d say so well loved my joints were still loose and I was walking like I’d just gotten off a horse. Something told me she didn’t want to know that.

“Fine.”

Dr. Masterson raised a brow. “We’ve been working together long enough now that you know I’m not going to let that slide. Elaborate, please.”

“Oh well, if you’re going to say please...”

“Dahlia.”

I sighed, feeling a bit bullied by my therapist, but in the way of a sibling or friend rather than someone who actually had malicious intent.

“I’m... lost and found all at the same time. God, that doesn't even make sense.”

She made a note on her pad of paper along with a soft murmur of understanding. “It makes sense to you, so it’s a good place to start. Let’s begin with the easier of the two. Why lost?”

“Because I’m not who he thinks I am, but I really wish I could be.”

“Tor?”

I shook my head.

“Kai?”

Feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment, I shook my head again. Masterson and I had discussed the men in my life before, but we hadn’t had an opportunity for me to get her up to speed on the new developments within these relationships.

“Cain,” I muttered.

Her brows lifted, not with judgment, but interest. “Really? Hmm. I thought he’d hold out longer.” Then she laughed. “And here I thought Caspian would be the first to give in.” Shaking her head, she made a couple more notes on her pad before lifting her eyes back to mine.

“Not for Cas’s lack of trying. He’s... problematic.”

Brows furrowing, she silently bade me to continue.

“Oh God, I don’t even know how to tackle that mountain. Cas is a relentless flirt, but it seems harmless. Like he just wants to get laid, or at least that’s what I thought in the beginning, but then he hits me with these one-liners that make me feel like it's the verbal equivalent of standing before me naked, and then I think maybe he’s interested in way more than just getting in my pants?—”

“Breathe, Dahlia.”

I followed her instructions and took a few long breaths. “I... I’m confused and torn, and I don’t know what to do. Tor claimed me. So did Kai. Now, Cain says I’m the one he’s been searching for, and Cas is... a lost boy.”

Dr. Masterson smiled softly but didn’t comment.

“And maybe none of that is much of a revelation, but the part that has me twisting myself into knots is that Cain thinks I’m the reincarnation of his one true love, and I can’t help but think he’s using me as some sort of sexual scapegoat or replacement for the woman he really wants.”

Masterson sat up in her chair and leveled her gaze on me. “What makes you think you aren’t?”

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