Page 24 of Raw

I raised a brow at him, putting my knife down and standing up to walk around the table to sit next to him.

“Are you mad at me?” I asked, confused about this weird interaction we just had.

He didn’t reply, and I let out a heavy sigh before wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Fen, I’m sorry if I said something wrong, but I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m happy, I promise.”

It took him a moment before the tension in his body eased, and he set his knife down next to the fish before placing his arm around my shoulders.

“I really didn’t mean to make you angry. I don’t like you angry.”

“I know you don’t, sweet girl,” he mumbled, kissing the top of my head and turning toward me so I could lean against his chest.

Of course, she didn’t say something to upset me, but this is how it had always been.

I wasn’t proud of myself for getting upset over the littlest and most unnecessary things, but for some reason, I always did.

My mood changed from one second to the other without any warning, and most times, it was Vespyr who received this kind of treatment.

Even when we were in high school.

It came out of nowhere, and in the end, it was her saying sorry when I was the one who owed her an apology.

But I couldn’t help myself.

I knew if I waited long enough, and dragged it out for far too long, she’d be hugging and comforting me.

It was a strategy I used on purpose to get her closer to me, and not only when we were home alone or out here in the woods with Papa.

Vespyr didn’t have to know though, and I would continue to manipulate her into thinking she did something wrong while I benefited from it with my perverted mind.

I was sick, but I’ve known that ever since I was younger.

It’s always been clear to me that something was off in my brain, and while I manipulated the people closest to me, my mind manipulated me.

As if certain wires in my brain weren’t connected to the right spots, making me think and feel differently.

Vespyr had always been close to me.

It’s always been us, but when you reach a certain point in life, when you feel as if you know the person better than anyone else, close isn’t enough anymore.

I ran my hand over her long, thick hair, keeping my eyes on her face as she looked straight ahead into the forest.

“I’m all better now, Vespyr,” I whispered, but she didn’t let go of me.

“Your heart is beating like crazy. Are you really okay?” Her voice was filled with worry and her big eyes met mine as she turned her head to look at me.

“I’m okay, sweet girl. I was mad for a little while, but you made it better,” I promised her. “You make everything better, you know?”

A small smile tugged at her lips. “You too. You’re my best friend, Fen, and I’ll always be right by your side. Forever.”

She meant every single word, but no matter how much truth there was in them, I wanted to hear something else from her.

I wanted to hear more.

Sick and twisted words that would only make me cross the line I so desperately tried not to step over.

You want to cross it. You’re a sick bastard.

---