Page 11 of Conflicted Fate
Calli-catch.
“Stop.”
Can’t. See. Me.
“Kiel. Stop,” I said, shaking my head, trying to forget, to tune it out. I didn’t want to go back there. To relive those memories.
“Calli-Catch. Calli-catch,” he started to sing out loud.
“Enough,” I growled. The cold chill I was feeling was fake. But it was too similar. A river. Someone I cared for deeply. That same damn song.
“Now. I’m. Free!”
I snarled and shoved him in the chest. “Well, if you wanted to push me away, you’re doing a damn good job of it!” I shouted in his face, turning to storm away. “Ass!”
Chapter Seven
Iwalked off without saying another word. Embarrassment and anger mixed in equal parts. Picking up a rock, I flung it across the surface of the slow-moving river with enough force to skip it several times before it plunged into the water. Not satisfied, I picked up a larger rock and tossed it out, aiming to make as big of a splash as I could.
Steam still not blown off, I continued down the river, following the path the water had carved over generations.
“Fuck,” I growled eventually, coming to a stop shortly after.
I would have to go back there and apologize for making a scene. He didn’t sing that song to intentionally provoke me.
A frown lowered my eyebrows as I thought about that.Hadhe known what singing that damn song would do? My mother was one of them. Kiel knew her. Which meant there was actually a strong chance hedidknow the truth about Lanna’s death and that song. So, maybe hehadbeen trying to provoke me …
“Hi.”
I stiffened. In the middle of my mental conversation, Kiel had come after me, and I hadn’t heard him approaching.
“Hello.” I didn’t look up at him, didn’t apologize.
He did.
“I’m sorry,” Kiel said softly, without any falsehood. He was being genuine, which only made me feel like more of an ass.
Sighing, I stopped studying the bed of rocks underfoot and looked at him, meeting his pale blue gaze with as much spine as I had. “Me, too,” I said. “I shouldn’t have stormed off like that.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Kiel said, licking his lips. Why was he nervous? “It’s just, I, well, I never thought anyone else out there would be as hurt as I am by that song.”
“Anyoneelse?” I echoed without thinking.
Kiel just stared at me until my mind made the mental connection between the context of the song—about them being backstabbers and hiding in the dark until the forces of “good” caught up to them and sent them running.
“Right, sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s not the song itself for me. But the memory that comes with it.”
I bit my tongue, trying to distract myself from the pain boiling to the surface. I couldn’t eventalkabout it without wanting to shed tears. Would that ever fade? It had been over a decade. Why did the pain always seem so fresh whenever I talked about her?
“What do you mean?” Kiel asked quietly, leaning forward.
I could see him fighting not to take another step toward me, doing his best to keep a respectful distance. His leg even twitched as it held itself back from taking a step. Hewantedto be near me. But his incredibly strong willpower kept him back from giving in. Part of me wished he would. I could use a Kiel hug right about then.
“You know about my sister? Lanna?” I said, forcing myself to speak her name, even if it made my tongue thick with grief.
I missed her so much. If she were still alive, I knew she would be right there with me, fighting against the Alphas.
Kiel nodded. “I know she died. That a lot of people blamed you. Thatyoublame you. But you were young and on the ice of the river. Accidents happen, Jada.”
