Page 33 of Live Like Legends

Morgan Lakes wasn’t somebody I’d thought I’d see anymore besides the obvious times I’d pass her at The Skies. We’d dated a little over four years ago, I’d all but forgotten about her. The relationship wasn’t something I cherished, nor was it something I would classify as life changing. It was honestly the kind of relationship Iwouldhave seen myself in at nineteen. She wasambitious, to the point where her confidence boiled over into being underhanded and mean.

None of what she said earlier had surprised me, but it had floored me that her sweet girl mask had come off so quickly. I had wanted so much for my career and life back then that what she’d painted as the picture of my future with her was something worth salivating over. She was an attractive guardian angel, and I was my father’s child, one of the best sentries and swordsmen. A perfect pair picked out of an angelic social magazine. I shook my head at the idea that I had, at one time, wanted a life with her; I had missed all the signs that I was just a good-looking trophy that Jonah was keen on.

Did I think I would have a future with a demon or a hybrid? No, but when I peeked through my lashes at her as she trudged around my room, well, she was really all I could ever consider wanting. And with whatever was going on in the sky had me sending Morgan back to being an afterthought and sending Dani to the forefront of my mind, where she belonged.

“How long did you date?”

I blinked over to her, narrowing my eyes, not understanding. “What?”

She tilted her head to the side, repeating herself. “Howlongdid you date?

“Uh...almost two years.”

She nodded once and clapped her hands together. “Was she just aswonderfulas she was in Oculus?” The sarcasm in her tone was far from subtle.

I sighed. “Honestly, she was much more reserved about it back then.”

“That’s shocking. She spoke to all of us like she had some personal vendetta.”

I pushed away from the wall. “She likes positions of power and being overtly close to Ariel gives her that. Her loyalty is fickle.”

“No shit, babe.”

“I wouldn’t give her anymore of your energy, like I said before, she isn’t worth it.”

She rolled her eyes, turning around and walking over to my bed, but turning on her heels before she laid back on it. It was right then that I realized she had changed into one of my shirts and…that was about it. I had a number of things that turned me on, but this girl, wearing my shirt that hit right above her knees and nothing but probably panties on…yeah, that would do it.

“I wish she just hadn’t been thrown in my face. I’m not blaming you but like fuck, I was riding a really big high and then bam! A surprise gets thrown my way in the form of some girl you used to fuck.”

The words tumbled out before I got a chance to rephrase anything. “I also got blind sided by Dimitri, a guyyouused to fuck.”

Her mouth opened as she reared her head back, thrown off guard. I hadn’t said it in a rude way, but what I’d said was still valid. “Okay, well, Dimitri and I never dated, it was just…”

“For fun and a good time, yes, you’ve told me. It doesn’t make me feel any fucking better about knowing that he, at one point in time, had his hands all over you.”

“I don’t like knowing Morgan had her precious little princess hands all over you either.” She clucked her tongue, raising an eyebrow at me. Her brown eyes weren’t trying to get a rise out of me, but Dani had this way of protecting herself with these back-and-forth verbal altercations.

She wasn’t upset, just territorial.

So was I.

“I’m not mad at you about Dimitri, you’ve had a past and so have I. I had no idea she would even show up. We’ve talked about the Dimitri thing and that’s behind us. You said you trust me, so just trust that my hands would rather be on someone else.” I smirked at her and she stuck her tongue in her cheek to hide her smile.

She fiddled with the end of my shirt she wore. “I’m not making excuses whatsoever or trying to find a loophole, but there is one solid difference between Dimitri and Morgan.”

I took a step towards her as she continued, “yes, Dimitri and I were just fun, there were no real feelings involved, at least on my part. You and Morgan had an actual, legitimate relationship. I’m not jealous of her because I know what we’ve got, but things just run deeper between you….”

I took longer strides to get over to her, tipping her chin up with my fingers. “Okay, please stop. Wedidhave a relationship, but that doesn’t mean anything when I look at you. Morgan would have never taken care of me the way you did in Purgatory, that just isn’t who she is.” I stroked her cheek with my knuckles. “It is whoyouare though.”

She slid her hands up my chest, taking hold of my shirt. “One last question.”

“Hmm?”

She bit her lip as if she was reconsidering what she wanted to say. “Did you love her?”

I leaned my head down to rest on her forehead. “I thought I did, but it isn’t the same as loving you. Frankly, it terrifies me how much I love you.”

“I’ve never loved anyone before, so lucky you being the one and only, Mr. Cassial.”

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