Page 22 of Masked Fate

But maybe I’m selfish because I’m still not ready for him to know.

I’ve chosen this path and need to stick to it.

“August was meant to come last night, but he didn’t.” She sighs, changing the subject. “I’m worried about him.”

“Why, what’s happened?” I ask, frowning.

“I told him some… news. He didn’t take it well,” she admits, swallowing. “And he’s hiding out in Chaos, which I can’t return to until we get to the bottom of what happened with Zython. Everything is a mess right now.”

“You and Rave aren’t,” I remind her with a smile.

She grins, a dreamy look taking over her face. “That’s true. It was a long road, but we’re getting there. It’s hard to stay angry at him when Vale is so amazing.” She winces, tilting her head to the side. “And when Vera is gone.”

Gone, being dead.

“And how’s Bane doing?” I ask her, smirking.

The two of them have some kind of connection, and there’s no point in anyone trying to deny it. I know it must kill Rave, although he wasn’t around to see it unfolding. It was definitely more Bane that was into Astrid, but if she didn’t have Rave, I definitely think she would have gone there.

I mean, I can’t blame her.

Bane is sexy as hell, covered in tattoos and runes with dark hair and eyes.

Sin personified.

“He’s been a lot less intense since finding out his mate is out there,” she replies, leaning back into my pillow. “We’re friends. We were meant to be in each other’s lives but just as friends. And Rave knows that.”

“Probably the only reason Bane is still alive.”

“Well, that and how Bane handled Vera,” she adds, sighing. “But back to you, I think you should tell Soren. The way he treats you is not okay, and I know that if he knew the truth, it would change everything. What you’re carrying is so heavy, Pandora. It’s time you shared the burden.”

Burden.

The truth is I’ve been carrying the weight of others on my shoulders for so long I don’t even know how it would feel to be free.

Rave storms into my room, frowning when he spots his queen in bed with me. Just to annoy him, I curl up against her, kissing her temple. “Come to join the party?”

Rave scowls at me, his ice-blue eyes flickering to black. The king is unhinged when it comes to his mate, and it’s extremely amusing.

I hear Soren call out to Rave, then dip his head in. “What the fuck am I missing in here?”

“Hands off, Pandora,” Rave growls, pulling Astrid into his arms. “Only bed you’re in is mine, baby.”

He kisses her neck, and she laughs huskily.

I don’t look at Soren.

I can’t.

Even when I feel his gaze scorching my skin.

I realize Astrid is right about one thing.

I either need to tell him or accept he’s not mine and move on.

Live a life without factoring Soren into it.

Live a life at all.

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