Page 74 of The Ways We Betray (The Path of Temptation 4)

Chapter 27

Talin

The knowledge of an upcoming session had me tense. I'd seen Nari's glance in Advanced Sexuality this morning. After that, it had been Wraythe hovering just a bit too much. Now, it was Anver, clearly able to tell that something was going on. The problem was that I didn't want to talk about it. I wanted to deal with it, get over it, and be there for Ela and Nari. None of this should be about me.

But Anver didn't seem to care. In Strength Training, he and Wraythe cornered me. I looked up, making it clear I knew they were there, then kept going. I needed at least ten more repetitions on this arm.

"Heard Entertainment students are getting a session," Anver said.

"Mhm," I agreed. "Nari and Ela should be with that priest from Perception I told you about."

"He's jealous," Wraythe said.

"Still?" Anver asked, the question directed at me.

I dropped the weight to the ground and gave up. "I know better," I promised them both. "That doesn't mean I can just stop feeling a certain way, ok?"

Wraythe grabbed the hand weight and began doing curls while standing there. "Zeal didn't bother you, right?"

"I know Zeal," I reminded them. "I've spent plenty of time with him." I pointed a finger at Anver as his mouth began to move, stopping him. "And before you say anything, know that casual sex is fine. That's a session. My issue is that Elalikesthis guy. I know Nari can't leave me. I can't say the same for Ela, so my mind is busy filling in reasons whyPeyronis more appealing than I am."

Wraythe just passed the weight to Anver, then sat on the bench beside me. "It's not like that, you know."

"I do," I promised. "Trust me, I'm perfectly aware that it's nothing like that, and yet I still feel this way."

"Insecure," Anver said softly before moving to put the weight back in its rack. "Trust me, I get it."

Wraythe bumped his shoulder into mine. "Me too. Used to feel like that about Nari. Actually did about you for a bit. Granted, getting my dick cut to shit made me think about it a little less, but I still felt it."

"But she loves you," I countered.

He just grinned. "Mhm. And he loves you. Still doesn't fix that feeling, though, huh?"

"No, it doesn't," I admitted, letting out a sigh. "So, can't we all just ignore that my mind is playing tricks on me, give me the chance to stand through it, and then I'll see for myself?"

"Nope," Anver said, moving to sit on the ground before us. "Talin, it's going to be hard."

"Yeah, I know."

"And," he went on as if I hadn't interrupted, "Ela pays attention. He acts like he doesn't, but he's just that good. If he eventhinksthat you're bothered by him being with this guy, then he'll stop the session. You can't ignore it, becausehewon't."

Which was a good point. Fuck! I just didn't know how to make myself believe that Ela cared about me as much as I cared about him. I also didn't really want to put all of my shit out there to be digested and combed through by anyone else.

"I can fake it," I promised.

"No, you can't," Wraythe said. "Nari already asked me if you're ok with this."

"And?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "I told her that you can't feel Ela as well as her, which means you can't figure out where you stand. She seemed to understand."

"That's Nari for ya," Anver mumbled. "The bigger question is why you think Ela would replace you with this guy."

"He's known him longer than me," I replied without thinking.

"Longer isn't the same as better," Anver countered. "Try again."

"He's pretty." This time, it came out in a grumble.

---