Page 122 of Scars and Burns

He shakes his head against mine. “No, I’m never letting you go again.”

“Dinalia, get away from him.” Saphrina says, marching over to us. Sliding her arms in between our bodies. Pushing me away.

Anger barrels through me. The slight chill returned to my soul.

“Saphrina, don’t push me away from him.” The anger is clear in my tone.

She takes his hand in hers. I watch as she interlocks her fingers with his. Grasping his forearm with her other hand.

I look back at him. He’s watching the movement. His eyes meet mine. Pain and suffering locked in our dead stare. He seems conflicted.

As if he isn’t sure how to proceed.

How could he not be sure?

I didn’t imagine this.

Right?

Saphrina is looking at me with disbelief and betrayal. “Dinalia, how could you do this to me? You knew Prince Aeron was my mate and yet I find you here with him. In an embrace, kissing!”

“Have you confirmed the bond?” I say, to her. Matching her aggression towards me.

She looks between the two of us. “Well, no. I couldn’t find him last night. He disappeared. Most everyone did, including you. That’s what I was coming to see you about this morning. But then I found this! You in the arms of my mate!”

“He is not your mate Saphrina!” I shout at her. My breathing is heavy. Overwhelmed with emotion. Defensiveness.

I can’t recall the last time I felt so much. My normal numbness and desolation to the world has faded.

Her eyes widened. The hurt is evident on her face.

Aeron slides his arm out from under her grasp. Walking over to my side. Placing his arm around my waist. I feel his hand grip my hip firmly. Pulling me into him.

He’s making this worse.

Flaunting us in front of her.

Saphrina stands there gawking. Frozen in place. Her mouth is gaping open.

“I don’t understand,” she begins, “I thought… Aeron, I thought you felt something for me. I thought you were my mate.”

Aeron clears his throat, “I do apologize if I gave you the wrongimpression but my heart has and always will be Dinalia’s.”

My breath falters in my lungs. I’m not about to hear him pledge himself to me, while I watch my sister’s heart break.

“I tried to deny it,” Aeron continues, “Knowing there are great odds and obstacles in our way. But I couldn’t.”

I don’t look up at him. My eyes locked on Saphrina. She’s taking the two of us in. I can see the tears swelling in her eyes. Her lip begins to quiver.

“Saphrina,” I begin, “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“So what? All this time you’ve been lying to me. Hiding this from me? Was this going on when I confided in you about him? Did you have a connection with him when I told you I thought he was my mate?”

There’s too much to explain and she is not willing to listen. I can’t possibly tell her I’ve met him before now. I can’t tell her I don’t even know what this is. But all I do know is it was out of my control before I could grasp it. I was falling into his essence and by the time I realized what was happening to me, it was too late.

I was his.

My soul was his.

---