Page 91 of Ensnared

Eden

Survivaltip #3

Fightfor yourself.

No-one else will.

Iready the dining table with a dull ache.Inmy muscles.Inmy gut.Idon’t know why it feels so wrong, really, like the planets are somehow out of alignment.Idon’t know why it hurts so much to lose something that never existed in the first place.

MaybeI’mjust embarrassed.

Doesyour heart usually hurt this much when you’re embarrassed?

Luckybrings in the rabbit and wild mushroom soup he made, and he’s been darting looks at me ever sinceImade my way down from my room—whereIfled in embarrassment after the abysmal ending to the games played between me andJasper.

Tome andJasper.

“Eden, are you okay?”Luckyasks, an anxious frown creasing his forehead. “Whathappened with... him?”

Tannedarms wrap around my waist from behind, and my breath catches in surprise.

“Jasperdidn’t scare you off, did he?”Beauasks.Lipspress to my temple, and he takes a deep inhale, breathing me in. “Ididn’t expect to see you down here tonight.”

Myinsides sting hotly.MaybeJasperdid whip me, after all—and he didn’t even need the flogger.

“No.It’s—I’mfine.”Itry to pull out of his arms, uncomfortable in my own skin right in this moment, let alone against someone else’s.

Beauonly lets me pull back slightly, face dimming.Hehesitates. “Eden, are we okay?Theother day... we left things in a weird place.”

“Youmean beforeDomnearly murdered me?”Iattempt to joke, but he stays unusually serious, waiting.

Damnit.Idon’t want to talk about this now.Idon’t want to talk about him, orJasper, or any of it.

“ShouldIfetch the potato?”Itouch my hair, but there’s nothing to fix; it’s tied securely in its proper bun again. “Youmade a side, didn’t you,Lucky?”

LuckyandBeauboth fall quiet, looking at me.

Iswallow, then nod. “I’lljust go get that.”

Beaupulls me back in, my back to his chest, his arms an unyielding vice. “Talkto me, darlin’.Didthings not go well?”

Iforce a light laugh, and hate the way it sounds.

“Don’tgo charging after him with a knife or anything.Ipromise nothing happened.”Mythroat is made of splinters. “Jasperwas a perfect gentleman.”

“That’swhen he hurts the most.”Acrossfrom me,Lucky’sface darkens, and the look is unnatural on him.Thecomedy mask turns to tragedy.Springto dead, decaying autumn. “Whatdid he say to you?”

“Wejust realized we aren’t a good fit, that’s all,”Iinsist.I’mstretching the truth of “we” a bit far, butIthinkJasperwill forgive me for it.

Hewas very gracious, even while telling meI’mnot enough for him.

Beau’shands run up my hips, andItry to let myself sink into his touch.

Atmy words,Luckyfreezes. “Youaren’t a good fit for him?Orhe isn’t a good fit for you?”Astrange look crosses his features. “Didhe say... why?”

“Doesit matter?”Beausays. “Thereare a lot of us.It’sno surprise that it’s not going to work out for everyone.Aslong as they’re happy, then there’s no problem.”

Happy.

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