Page 58 of Taste of Fate

“I do know you. You’re not a bad person, Cy. You’ve done a lot to show that you care about me and I…I feel the same way. If I’m your blood mate, that just seals it for us, right? We can be…together. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.”

I wouldn’t have felt more vulnerable, exposed, and pathetic if I had taken my beating heart out of my chest and offered it to him right then and there.

Cyan actually sighed and sat up, rolled over to his side table, and took out a darakt cigarette. He leaned against the headboard as he lit up, taking his sweet damn time.

“Here’s the difference between you and me, Tavi.” He exhaled red smoke and took the cigarette from his lips. “You’re selfless to a fault. You care about other people way more than yourself. You’ll hurt yourself to make others happy.”

I willed myself not to shake. He was right, but he didn’t have to throw it in my face like it was some character flaw. I wanted the people I cared about to be safe and happy. Including him. Was that so wrong?

“As for me, I’m the complete opposite.” He took another drag, ashing carefully in an obsidian dish on his nightstand. “I only care about myself. And to get what I want, I’m not afraid to hurt others in the process.” His brows slashed down over his red eyes. “So you want to understand me? Your blood tastes good and you’ve got a great body. I’ll keep charming you and making you think you’re special to me just so I can get a taste. Congratulations, Tavi. You’ve joined the roster of a dozen other women I rotate through.”

I shut my eyes against the tears threatening to spill over. I knew he didn’t want to settle down, but I’d never heard him speak this cruelly before. Why was he doing this?

“You’re lying. I don’t know why you’re pushing me away, but?—”

“I told you I liked variety. The very first day I brought you here, I told you what the deal was. What I don’t understand is why you’re acting so surprised.”

The words cutting through me didn’t match the man who’d helped me bottle my wine, carved vows into his chest, or protected me from a drae addict. Hell, this person didn’t even match up with the Cyan who edged me for an explosive orgasm just a few minutes ago. I had reached the point beyond confused and was now awash in a sea of hurt.

“So I’m not your blood mate?”

Cyan scoffed with another exhale of red smoke. “You really think a vampire like me has a blood mate?” Before I could cry out in frustration that I didn’t know, he added, “Variety is what sustains me. Not being chained to one boring blood source for the rest of my life.”

I allowed those words to sink in, to burrow deeply in my heart so that I would never forget them, and then stood from the bed.

“I can’t live in your place anymore.” The pain had given way to numbness and I felt oddly detached from the words coming out of my own mouth. “And you can’t have my blood anymore. I’m revoking all consent for you to drink from me.”

“Fair enough.” Cyan lifted one shoulder in a barely-perceptible shrug. “Shut the door on your way out.”

A fresh stab of hurt cut through my numbness. He really didn’t care. At all.

I left his bedroom, resisting the urge to slam the door behind me. He already got enough satisfaction of seeing my feelings pour out, and I refused to give him any more. I packed up my belongings and snacks in a daze while every memory of us played like a highlight reel in my mind.

It was surreal to know it was all a lie. Every moment where he’d been protective, tender, or even sweet had been a manipulation tactic. He must have been playing on my desire to help others since the beginning. Getting injured last night probably wasn’t planned but it sure was convenient for him.

And fuck my bleeding heart, I still cared about him. I wanted to wish he’d been finished off in the attack, but I couldn’t even think that without a fresh wave of tears stinging my eyes.

I had tunnel vision as I left his suite with all of my things. If there were any vampires milling about the hall, watching the pathetic human blood pet with tears streaming down her face, I didn’t see them.

My feet and one-track mind led me to one door in particular. Bea opened up seconds after my knock. Black and turquoise eyes widened at the sight of me.

“Tavia! Oh Temkra, are you okay?”

“Hey.” I steeled myself with a breath. “I’m really sorry to intrude, but I can’t stay with Cyan anymore and don’t have anywhere else to go. Can I crash on your couch? Just until I figure things out.”

She opened the door wider and immediately ushered me in. “You, poor thing, are taking my bed and I’ll be on the couch.”

“No! No, I couldn’t possibly?—”

“Then I hope you love snuggling because we’ll be sharing the bed in that case. Looks like you need it.”

Bea took my bags of clothes and snacks from me, set them aside, and pulled me into a hug. That was when the dam broke and I fell apart. My wall of numbness shattered and all the hurt poured through. I sobbed on her shoulder like a child while she rubbed my back and made soothing noises.

“Shhh, you’re alright. Let it out.” Somehow we made it to the couch, where she continued to hold me. “I don’t know what he did, but I’m sorry he’s such an inflated monkey’s ass. Stay as long as you need.”

I half-laughed, half-sobbed while making a mess out of her shirt with my tears and snot. Bea didn’t seem to care about her clothes though, and continued to soothe me.

“He was…really fucking mean.” I gave her a brief overview of what happened, then got up to clean myself up. After blowing my nose and splashing some water on my face, I felt a tiny bit better. Still wounded and like the tears would return at the drop of a hat, but not crying right that second felt like a win.

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