Page 79 of Owned By Two

When he didn’t turn, I pointed at it. “Look!”

This time, with me pointing rather than making fists, he broke his focus and glanced at it.

The moment he did, he double-took it and turned to face what was on the bed again.

A suitcase.

“I’ve packed my things already,” I said. “The rest of my stuff is in large cases downstairs. After the funeral, I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again.”

Blor looked taken aback.

He snapped out of it and, keeping his attention on me, marched toward the built-in wardrobes and threw them open.

The coathangers rattled as he moved from one door to another.

He saw what I told him was the truth.

He whirled on me. “Why?”

The question could have been directed to a myriad of different topics:

Why did I sleep with her?

Why would I not fight for Lizzy?

Why did I have no shame?

But I suspected the real question he wanted answered was:

Why are you leaving?

I raised my hands to show him I was not going to fight him. “Can I put my hands down now?”

He thought about it for a moment before nodding, and he lowered his arms too.

“I’m leaving because I won’t come between you and your fated mate,” I said, although the words were like bile in my mouth. “I’m leaving because I can’t live here, work here, see you and Lizzy all lovey-dovey with each other every day. I’m leaving because I must.”

Blor didn’t look like he believed what I was saying. “You slept with her. And don’t try to deny it. I saw the way she looks at you.”

I sighed. “Yes. And it was the best day of my life.”

Blor stiffened and I immediately raised my hands; partly in surrender, partly to defend myself.

“I’m telling you nothing you don’t already know,” I said. “Nothing but the truth. What you choose to do with it is up to you.”

He growled and although he didn’t nod for me to continue, I went on anyway:

“I honestly thought she was my fated mate,” I said. “I saw her photo years ago and the moment I did, Iknewshe was the one for me. I can’t explain how I knew that, I just did. And when I met her a couple of days ago, I felt even more certain we were meant to be together. I thought fate had brought us together.

“Then, when we were out in the jungle and were attacked by a wild Morpik — it’s a long story — that’s when it happened. I saw the Joisa at the base of her spine and assumed it was linked with me. I really did.”

I ground my teeth to stop the tears that threatened to roll down my cheeks.

“But then you turned up and showed me your Joisa. It matches hers exactly. I knew it was genuine the moment I saw it. And I knew I must have been mistaken. That sheisn’tmine. That she belongs toyou,not me. And trust me, I would much rather she were mine than yours. And I would be the one forcingyouto leave us. I wouldn’t want you hanging around either.”

Once I was finished, we were each silent for a long moment.

Then Blor approached me.

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