Page 57 of Fighting the Darkness

“I... Ummm...” Freya flushes, her head dropping, and I know I should feel like shit—knowing I will later if I don’t now—but I’m on a roll.

“Don’t be shy now, princess.” I roll the nickname across my tongue, smirking because I know how much she hates it. “I just watched you come all over his face. His face is soaked with your juices. I feel like we can be frank, don’t you?”

Freya’s nose wrinkles as she pushes back her shoulders, lifting her head. “I didn’t do anything wrong.Wedidn’t do anything wrong.”

“No?” I nod slowly. “So I have no reason to feel hurt or betrayed? That’s what you’re telling me?”

“Come on, Sor. Don’t talk to her like that.”

I scoff, turning to him. “Don’t talk to her like that? Are you protecting her now? You’re choosing her over me? Is that how it’s going to be?”

“Now, just a damn minute—“

“No, Griffin,” I say drolly. “Neither of you can tell me what I should think or how I should feel. I get to decide that, just like the two of you decided to get it on in your office where anyone could’ve walked in. At least lock the damn door. And Freya... Griffin? Really? He’s old enough to be your dad. If I knew you were into older men, I would’ve tried a little harder to get into your pants.”

Freya works her jaw before shaking her head. “You’re mad, I get it, but you don’t get to talk to me like this.”

“And you don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do,” I roar at her. My blood is pounding in my head, and I don’t know where this anger came from. I don’t know why I’m lashing out at the two of them, but when Freya jumps back as if I’ve slapped her, I realize just how badly I’ve fucked up.

Tears swim in her eyes as she nods. “You’re right, I don’t. But I do get to decide if I stay here and take the abuse you feel like you need to throw my way or if I leave. I’m sure you won’t be surprised by my decision.”

Freya shoves past me, knocking her shoulder into mine as she practically runs from the room.

“Freya!” Griffin calls after her, but the door’s already shut behind her. “God damn it, Soren!”

I don’t even see it coming. The next thing I know, I’m on the ground, my face screaming at me in pain, with Griffin standing over me.

I shake my head, tears filling my eyes as I move to kneel. “I didn’t mean it. I don’t... I don’t know what’s going on with me right now.”

Suddenly, I can’t breathe. It’s like I’ve forgotten how it works. I gasp, trying to fill my lungs with air, but I can’t. Tears stream down my face as I kneel there.

What have I done?

“Fuck, Sor.” Griffin glances at the door once before dropping to his knees beside me. “Come on, baby. You have to breathe. Come on and breathe with me.”

I’m confused when he picks up my hand, laying it on his chest. But then I feel it rise and lower with each breath he takes, and I know he’s trying to remind me how to breathe. At first, my breaths are little more than ragged gasps, but eventually, they even out and I no longer feel like I’m dying.

Griffin helps me sit up, pulling me into his arms. “What the hell was that, Sor?”

“I don’t know. I was just so surprised to find you two like that. I didn’t even think you were attracted to women.” I shake my head. “I didn’t mean to lash out—especially not at Freya. She’s right. Neither of you did anything wrong. I was just... I was jealous.”

“Of me being with her?”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, partially. I was jealous of both of you. I was jealous that I wasn’t there with you. That we weren’t both feasting on her together. I was jealous that you were giving her attention that I’m used to only being on me.”

“Shit, Sor.” It’s Griffin’s turn to shake his head now. “I don’t even know what to say to that. I need to go find Freya and make sure she’s okay. You need to apologize.”

“She’s long gone by now, Griff. I was cruel. I bet she didn’t even shower. She probably just grabbed her shit and got the hell out of dodge. How am I even going to make this up to her? She must hate me.”

“I don’t know, Sor. I just don’t know.” I can’t tell if he’s mad at me or just disappointed, but at least he keeps holding me. “I think the two of us need to have a conversation. Let me at least try to call Freya to find out if she made it home okay. But we’re having this conversation, whether you want to or not.”

Pulling back, I bite my lip as I look up at him. “Yeah, I think we need to.”

“Are you okay, now?”

I shrug, already removing myself from his arms. “Go ahead and call her. I’ll be fine.”

I stand up, rubbing my hand along my jaw. Damn, does that man pack a punch. An ice pack hits my chest, and I almost drop it as Griffin walks away. I lift it to my jaw as he puts his phone to his ear. She must not be answering because he looks more and more agitated by the second. He curses, hanging it up before trying to call her again.

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