CHAPTER 4
Frankie
I slam my car door shut and stomp my way over to Ronin. He finishes taking a drink from his water bottle and tosses it next to his shirt. Black sweatpants hang off his hips as a bead of sweat rolls down his forehead. He enjoys working out before our morning runs. I swear that’s all he does.
“I was starting to think you weren’t going to sh—”
I shove him with all my might, but he doesn’t budge. Damn, I was hoping to knock him over.
“What the hell, Francis?” Grabbing my arms, he holds them by my side so I don’t hit him. He knows me too well.
“Why didn’t you tell me he was cheating on me, you asshole?” I rip my arms from his grip, placing them on my hips.
The shocked look on his face would almost be comical if I weren’t so fucking mad. “What the hell are you talking about?”
My fingers form into fists, but I keep them at my side. “Don’t play dumb! Zarreth’s cheating on me, and you know it.”
His head jerks back, a bewildered look on his face like I insisted the Earth is flat. “No, he’s not.”
I do my best impression of a human lie detector, trying to find a hidden meaning in those three words, but I think he’s telling the truth. “So where’s he been sneaking off to?”
He exhales sharply. “I don’t know, but he’s not cheating on you.”
I narrow my eyes at him and begin stretching my hamstrings. Ronin knows Zarreth better than anyone; I’m sure he’s right, but I have to ask, “You would tell me if he was, wouldn’t you?”
“No,” he says flatly, shrugging his shoulders.
“What the hell, Ronin?” I shoot him a dirty look. “What do you mean, no?
“What? He’s my best friend. But, I’d beat the shit out of him until he told you himself.” Placing his hands on my shoulders, he leans down, looking me directly in the eye. “Stop thinking like that. He’s your fucking mate; he’d never cheat on you.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I know.” I’m just feeling insecure because I can’t have sex with my incredibly hot mate without ruining it. Zarreth isn’t a cheater. He would tell me if things got that bad…I hope.
We finish stretching and take off through the woods. I try keeping my mind on the path, but the same memory creeps in, the one that always shows up when things heat up between me and Zarreth. It’s like a reflex I can’t shake. But that’s not the only thing that triggers me.
I need a way to deal with my emotions without hurting everyone around me. Cutting only buys me a few moments, and I can’t hide it forever. If I don’t find an outlet soon, I really will become the monster everyone warns their children about—the Realm Eater.
“You’re slacking today, Frances,” Ronin yells from over his shoulder.
When did he get so far ahead of me? He’s not even sweating. Just looks like he’s been taking a leisurely stroll, so I flip him off. Showoff!
I pace myself and focus on the colorful leaves, hoping it’ll lift my mood. The cool air feels good against my skin, the birds chatter above. It’s almost peaceful.
My heart is still pounding when I finish the ten-mile run. Does this ever get easier? Ronin is leaning against my car, texting someone. I bet he already finished his post-run stretches. My eyes land on his water bottle. Crap, I left mine at home. I quickly swipe it and guzzle it down.
He continues looking at his phone when he reaches over and pushes the water bottle up so it spills all over my chin.
“Hey!” I squeal, wiping my face with the bottom of my shirt. “What was that for?”
Still texting, he chuckles and says, “I don’t know. Just felt like it.”
I bend over and grab my ankle, feeling the stretch along the back of my calf. “I feel bad for Lucy.” Ronin only found out a few months ago that his parents had a baby while he was imprisoned by Aradon. His sister is thirteen years old now and absolutely adores Ronin.
He finally puts his phone away and looks at me. “She loves me. Anyway, I gotta go. I lost a bet to Jess last night, so I’m making breakfast.”
I try not to imagine what kind of bet they made. “Do I even want to know?”
“Probably not,” he says, tracing away. I shake my head, getting in the car. Those two are such troublemakers.
As soon as I’m home, the sweaty clothes come off and the jeans go on. There’s a note sitting on my dresser. Zarreth hates technology, but I love his letters. When I’m not mad at him anyway.
He must’ve dropped it off while I was out running. I don’t want to look at it. I can’t believe he left last night…after everything. I know our sex didn’t end the way we wanted it too, but it was a big deal. It’s the furthest we’ve gone since we’ve been back. And he just…left.
Ugh! This is why I never dated before. I hate feeling suspicious or jealous or whatever this feeling is. I’m not Zarreth’s mom. I’m not his wife. He doesn’t owe me an explanation.
I finally look at the note.
I hope you slept well. I have a lead. I’ll update you once I find out more. - Love, your hot buttered love muffin.
I think someone finally won the cringiest pet name competition. I don’t think I can top that one.
I wonder if he’s really chasing a lead, and why he won’t just tell me what’s going on. He knows I don’t like being left in the dark—not when it comes to Dante. Unless…maybe there is no lead. What if he’s doing something else? What if he really is lying to me?
I need Jess, so I shoot her a quick text. Meet me at my house after
work and leave Ronin behind.
It’s about Zarreth
“Why’d you bring a shovel?” I glance at Jess, digging my spoon into the pint of ice cream.
She leans it against the wall, sauntering over while I scoop up the perfect chunk of cookie dough.
Snatching the spoon from my hand, she quickly pops it in her mouth and sits on the counter next to me. “Hey!” I protest.
“If we’re burying a body together, the least you can do is share your ice cream.” She takes another bite while I grab a second spoon, deciding she has a point.
“Would you seriously bury a body with me, no questions asked?”
She looks at me like I asked her if coffee counts as a food group. “Obviously, so where’s the body?”
“There is none.” I smile when her face falls. “Yet.” Should I be worried she perked up at that?
“So, what’s going on?” She nudges me out of the way, digging for some more cookie dough.
“I think Zarreth is hiding something.” I set down my spoon, suddenly losing my appetite. “Or cheating on me.”
Her spoon drops, and her eyes get as big as pancakes. “No fucking way! Why do you think that?”
“He’s just been acting strange lately, being vague about where he goes. If he’s not cheating, then he’s up to something big, and I plan to find out what it is.”
“I can’t believe he would cheat on you. Do you think it has to do with Dante?”
“I don’t know. He told me he had a lead, and now I haven’t heard from him all day. He’s not answering his phone, but that’s nothing new.” I roll my neck, trying to relieve the tension. “I don’t know what to do.”
She stands and plucks the ice cream right out of my hands, tossing it in the freezer before I can protest. “I’ll be right back. Find my emergency stash of makeup while I’m gone so I don’t have to haul mine here.”
“Hey—” I start, but she’s already striding for the door.
“Oh no, nope! I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I already don’t like it.” I follow her outside.
“Just do it!” she yells, jogging toward her house.
I might be the stubborn one, but she is way more bossy than I am. “Fine!” I mutter, knowing she’ll rope me into her shenanigans anyway. She always does.
I toss her makeup onto the bed when the door swings open, Jess holding a bag of clothes and her knee-high boots.
“I am not wearing those! What are we doing that requires your hooker boots?” I exclaim as she tosses them on my floor and places the bag on my bed. I never understood why people wear uncomfortable shoes. Jess swears your feet get used to them, but I’ll stick to my flipflops or converse.
“We are not doing anything. You are going to spy on your mate and finally get to the bottom of this.” She pulls a stack of leather and fishnet from the bag.
“You’re not serious. I am not spying on Zarreth, and I am definitely not wearing whatever that is.”
She grabs my shoulders, pushing me down until I’m sitting on my bed. Her eyes lock on mine. “I hate to say this, but if, for some crazy reason, Zarreth is cheating on you, he’s not going to tell you. You gotta take matters into your own hands.”
“What if he’s not cheating on me and I just look like an idiot breaking into his house?” My stomach sinks. Either way, he’s hiding something from me.
She grabs an eyeshadow pallet and a small brush. “That’s just a chance you’re going to have to take. Now close your eyes.”
I push her hand aside. “Why do I need to look like a hooker to spy on him?”
She sighs like that’s the most absurd question she’s ever heard. “I know it’s a small chance, but if there is another woman in that house, you have to be hotter than her. That’s just common sense, Frankie.”
Would I really care what I look like if Zarreth is cheating on me? I picture a beautiful, slender, blue-eyed blonde, with perfect silky hair, bouncing on top of him. My teeth almost break at how hard I’m clenching them. Yep, I would.
“You’re right.” I close my eyes, waiting for Jess to work her makeup magic on me. “Make me hot!”
She squeals and does a little shimmy. “You’re gonna be the sexiest little stalker who’s ever walked the earth.”
An hour later, I’m belly-down in the tall grass, crawling like some kind of deranged army recruit. My leather corset creaks every time I move. The fishnets snag on everything. And who the hell spies in knee-high boots?
I yank a piece of grass from my stocking. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Zarreth will probably sense me long before I reach him, but I’m already committed and embarrassment has never stopped me before.
I make it halfway before pushing myself up. I’m one snag away from walking home naked. My mate really does bring out the crazy in me. I stomp the rest of the way to his front door and press my ear against it like I’m about to find something useful. Nothing.
He better be here. If he lied to me about where he’s at…ooooh, I’ll be so mad.
I brush the dirt from my skin-tight black shorts and straighten my left pigtail. This is so ridiculous. I count to three and open the door like I wasn’t pretending to be an undercover spy. Why am I so nervous? I know Zarreth would never cheat on me. He’s probably just planning something romantic.
I search every room, but don’t find a bed covered in rose petals, or candles lighting the living room. A bottle of wine isn’t sitting in the kitchen, waiting to be poured. Where the hell is he?
I’m about to turn the corner when the basement door flies open. Shit! I press my back to the wall so I’m out of sight, but can’t stop my head from peering around the corner. What’s he doing down there?
“I’ll be right back,” he yells over his shoulder, making his way to the fridge. “Try not to miss me too much.”
My heart stops.
Oh my God!
Oh my fucking God!
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
He’s cheating on me! A chill runs through my bones, even as I begin sweating. The floor tilts. I grab the wall to keep from falling. He’s actually cheating on me.
He grabs two bottles of water and heads back the way he came, pausing to pull out his phone. He looks exhausted, but there’s something else there too.
Dammit. I know that look—contentment.
I try rubbing the pain from my chest. Tears sting the back of my eyes. When was the last time I made him look like that?
Choking down a sob, I straighten my spine, refusing to be a victim. I will not sit here and cry while that piece of shit gets his rocks off with someone else because his fragile mate can’t handle being properly fucked.
Fuck that! I’m not fragile. I’m not weak. And I will not take this. He slides the phone into his pocket and reaches for the doorknob when I scream.
“You fucking bastard!” Jumping on his back, I secure my legs around his waist. I will fucking kill him.
I circle my arm around his neck, making sure my inner elbow is pressed against his trachea, and grip my opposite shoulder.
Placing my left hand behind his head, I lean forward with all my body weight, squeezing my arms as tight as I can.
He will regret the day he made me perfect a triangle choke.
I’m going to pop his fucking head clean off his body.
He easily reaches up and pries my fingers from my shoulder, breaking the choke. Asshole! Tugging my arm, he whips me around and sets me on my feet, steadying me so I don’t fall. His eyes are wide, shocked. “Frankie?”
“Yeah, remember me? Your mate!” I smash his jaw with a left hook, but his head barely budges. Pain shoots through my knuckles, sharp enough to make me hiss. He gently reaches for my hand like he can comfort me. Asshole! I jerk away.
The punch hurts, but the heat crawling up my fingers isn’t from that.
Magic rises fast, like it’s hungry. My dark powers may not work on him, but they’ll work on the little whore he has tucked away in the basement.
I yank the door open before he can stop me from annihilating his slutty little sidepiece.
Zarreth reaches for me. “Frankie, don’t go down there,” he pleads, anxiety written all over his face.
Fuck him. He’s about to find out what his mate is really capable of.