Page 64 of Our Deceptive Heat

“I never make any promises I can’t keep.” My mother feigns offense. “Why, our Envy here once spent an entire summer working in the fields with Digs, even though he was allergic to the grasses, just to help Digs save up money for a new guitar.”

“You did that?”

“It wasn’t that bad, a bit of sniffles, nothing serious.” Fucking hell, I think my cheeks are going to catch fire.

“Oh, kid, the bullshit that comes out of your mouth!” My mother leans into Ryn. “He was snotty and puffy, walking around with slits for eyes and sounding horrible. We paid more in antihistamines than he paid for the guitar in the end. But I think over that summer is when friendship turned to love, if I’m not mistaken.”

I duck my head, cursing them. How did they know that?

“Can we stop with the stories?” I shout in panic.

Ryn giggles, and I find myself mesmerised by the sound, staring at her like she’s the only thing in this world.

“Yeah, that’s the look. The one he would level on Digs, Tyr, and Mako,” My mum says softly, I think I’m the only one who heard her, but I can’t look away from Ryn as she slowly stops laughing and wipes a tear away, for all the world.

And, suddenly, guilt black as thunderclouds takes the sparkle out of the day.

I need to tell her the truth.

Chapter twenty

Tyr

I keep looking forreasons to tell you no, but I don’t even know what I’m fighting for- Tyr Fate

We’re back at the hotel, and it’s the middle of the night. Of course, I can’t sleep. Instead of wandering around and keeping the pack up, I slip out of our rooms and head down to the lounge. There is a slow and melancholy jazz track playing in the background, and the lights are dimmed. Other than the bartender, there is only one person in the bar, and I recognise her immediately.

For a moment, I just watch the misery on her expression as she turns the glass of whatever she’s drinking. She’s got her chin on one hand and is wearing jeans and a loose grey top. Her hair is all sleep tousled, but her sadness bleeds into the air.

I should leave.

I can’t leave.

Auryn looks up when she hears me coming and smiles. It’s the instant, welcoming smile that crushes all of my resistance. I grab a chair beside her at the bar, turn it, and straddle it. Her eyes trail down my thighs, and I feel myself start to get hard. We haven’t discussed if things will continue, not with her and not with the pack.

We should have.

I want her.

“What are you doing up?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” she murmurs. “It's too quiet and empty.”

She couldn’t have said anything worse if she tried. The urge to pack her up in my arms and drag her into our bed where my pack can wrap her up in our protective arms is too hard to resist.

“They told me about you. About your sister. I had no idea, Tyr. I’m sorry.”

I shrug, put my arms over the back of the chair, and lean my chin on it. “Family is family, and I protect them.”

“You’re something special, Tyr. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” she murmurs and slides me a notebook.

I flip it open and read the song she’s written for me. It’s about trying so hard to make the world perfect. About standing on an island that’s crumbling.

I close my eyes briefly, wishing things were different.

“Why do you understand me so easily?” I murmur, wishing she didn’t.

She stands up, but I catch her arm. No, I can’t let her go. Not after that. I rise and step into her space so we’re almost chest-to-chest.

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