Page 25 of Silent Jay

Yeah, well, short-lived. This can’t be me.

Always the prince and never the princess.

Now, don’t be sexist, gender fluidity and all.

Clenching my fists, I forced myself to deal with reality.

I wasn’t physically capable of bringing children into the world. No magic or technology existed that could change that.

I grabbed the tablet and typed: Why are dragons bringing women to the island?

Tyson sighed. “Another one of your questions that I know was covered in your class. Look, it’s a fertility issue…maybe a little more complicated than that. But I don’t want to talk about it. I want to talk about you – about us. About the babies I’ll fill your stomach with.”

My gut twisted as my little fantasy exploded.

Tyson cupped my cheeks and used his thumb to rub a single tear across my skin. “I wish I could glimpse your thoughts. I’ve spent the last two days trying to make everything you wanted on that sheet happen, but sometimes you look so incredibly sad.” He swallowed. “I’ve only known you for two days, but it breaks my heart.”

I shuddered with the force of his emotion and lurched off him, bolting for the bathroom. The wall shook as I slammed the door. I sank to the floor and leaned against the wood to keep it closed.

No one tried to make me happy or told me I was incredible or that I was everything they could ask for. Tyson called me his soul mate multiple times now. Real people didn’t say those things. At least not to women like me, and once he knew I couldn’t give him what he wanted. He’d take every word back.

He won’t. Give him a chance.

He will. I know he will.

“Wiggles,” Tyson said, his voice right outside the door. “Sweetie, please don’t shut me out.”

Wiggles. I snorted—more shit spewing out of his mouth to try and placate someone who didn’t exist. I didn’t wiggle.

“Look,” he said. I could picture him running his hand down his face. “Come out. We’ll snuggle in the sun and fill out a new sheet together. This isn’t a big deal.”

It was. He just didn’t know it yet.

Loneliness washed over me. I didn’t want to go back to Graeagle. I wanted the connection this Betty had – but without the strings attached. I took a few deep breaths. The cold tile of the bathroom floor dug into my butt. I wasn’t Betty. I didn’t want to be Betty. Admitting how lonely I was would have to be enough. I couldn’t mess up Tyson’s future.

After wiping the tears off my face, I stood and stared at myself in the mirror.Jaiyana, you’ve got this. Just stay strong. You’re the most powerful enchantress in the world. You’ve cheered on lovers at their mortal weddings and helped them find their true loves. Tyson isn’t special. You literally just met him two days ago. Be honest and focus on getting out of here.

This is not a big deal.

But it is. You’ve been happy.

Life isn’t about being happy.

Maybe it should be.

Just… I can’t.

With my resting bitch face back in place, I exited the bathroom like a prissy cat who didn’t just fall off the table.

Tyson pulled me into his side, and my body sang for our brief hug.

He retrieved his tablet, and we settled on the couch on opposite sides. With a shake of his head, he reached across thecouch and pulled me into his lap. Not only did I let him, but I fucking wiggled so we were as close as two people could get.

The blood drained out of my face. When had I started wiggling?

He smirked, placing the tiniest kiss on my nose before flinching back. “That’s getting old, fast, that bastard Rehan. I’ve no idea how to remove a mate mark.” He pulled me closer. “But maybe if you stopped distracting me, I could actually think.”

I was wiggling again before I even realized it.

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