Chapter 22
Varyth stood in the doorway, looking only slightly less dishevelled than me.
At least he’d managed proper clothes. Dark trousers and a half-buttoned shirt that did absolutely nothing to help my current state of mind.
His hair, though, was a disaster. Wild and tangled, like he’d dragged his hands through it too many times. Like he’d been as rattled as I was.
His eyes found mine first, then flicked to Darian. Back to me. Something unreadable passed across his face, surprise maybe. Or frustration.
He hadn’t expected to find me here.
The silence stretched too long. Uncomfortable. Heavy with things neither of us were saying.
“I was just leaving,” I blurted, already pushing to my feet. My legs felt unsteady beneath me, but I forced them to hold. “I should—I need to get dressed properly. Check on the children.”
Varyth nodded. Stiff. Formal. Like we were strangers instead of—
Instead of what? People who’d spent the night wrapped around each other?
I started toward the door, but I had to pass him to get there.
I almost made it.
“Running away again, I see,” he muttered under his breath.
I froze. Every muscle in my body went rigid as those words carved themselves into my spine.
Slowly, so slowly, I turned to face him.
“What did you just say?”
Varyth’s jaw tightened. “You heard me.”
“Running away?” The words came out strangled, caught between disbelief and fury. “I’m not—I was giving you space. I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Right. Space.” His laugh was bitter, humourless.
“What exactly is your problem?” I demanded, taking a step toward Varyth instead of away from him.
“You ran the second you woke up. Barely said a word. Didn’t even look at me.”
“That’s not—” I broke off, fists clenching at my sides. “You know what? Fuck you.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I stepped forward, closing the distance between us until I could feel the heat radiating off his skin. “You don’t get to act like I’m the problem here. Like I’m the one running when you—”
“When I what?” His voice dropped lower, dangerous. “When I let you sleep in my bed? When I held you through your nightmares?”
“Stop.” I snapped. “Just stop.”
“Why?” He leaned in, and gods, he was too close. “Does it bother you? Hearing it out loud?”
“Yes.” The word ripped out of me before I could stop it. “Yes, it fucking bothers me because you’re acting like you did me some grand favour when I never asked for any of it.”
His face went hard. “Right. Of course. How could I forget? You don’t need anyone.”
“That’s not what I—”
“Isn’t it?” He cut me off. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks an awful lot like it. That between us—”
“There is nothing between us.” The lie tasted like ash on my tongue.
“Finally, something we agree on.” The words were flat. Cold. “It was nothing. A mistake, if you’d stopped running or interrupting me for two seconds, you might’ve figured that out.”
I forced myself to laugh, the sound brittle.
He crossed his arms, his expression carved from stone. “You think I make a habit of letting people into my bed?”
“I think you make a habit of being an asshole.”
“And I think you make a habit of assuming the worst of everyone around you.” His eyes were ice now. “Must be exhausting, constantly looking for reasons to push people away.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t have to if people stopped trying to—” I broke off, fists clenching at my sides.
“Stopped trying to what? Care about you?” He laughed, and it was a cruel sound. “Don’t worry, Isara. Lesson learned.”
“Good.” The word came out vicious. “Glad we’re on the same page.”
“Wonderful. So you can stop acting like I’ve wronged you somehow.”
“I didn’t.” Heat rushed up my neck, into my face. “Fuck you.”
“Already said that.” His jaw tightened. “Getting repetitive.”
“Okay, let’s all just—” Darian started, but I rounded on him.
“Stay out of it.”
“I’m really thinking I shouldn’t,” Darian said, hands raised. “Because you two are about thirty seconds from doing something monumentally stupid—”
“It was one night,” Varyth cut him off. “One night that meant nothing. She’s made that abundantly clear.”
“I haven’t made anything clear because you won’t shut up long enough to—”
“To what? Hear you explain how desperate you were to get away from me?” His mist had begun to curl around his arms. “Message received, Isara.”
“Listen to yourselves,” Darian tried again, stepping between us. “Both of you. You’re—”
“You’re unbelievable.” My power rose to meet his, flames igniting at my fingertips. “You couldn’t even look at me this morning.”
“Because I was giving you space.”
“And where was that space last night?”
Varyth’s expression shuttered immediately. “Well, you’re getting it now.”
Something cracked inside my chest. “Perfect. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
“Please,” Darian said, and there was actual desperation in his voice now. “Whatever this is, whatever you’re both trying to prove—”
“I’m not trying to prove anything,” I said. “I’m just done pretending last night was anything other than a mistake.”
Varyth flinched. Actually flinched, and I hated how much satisfaction that gave me. Hated myself for wanting to hurt him just because I was hurting.
“There we go,” he said softly. “At least now we’re being honest.”
“Honest?” My laugh was acid. “You wouldn’t know honest if it bit you.”
“And you wouldn’t know how to stay if someone paid you.”
“Varyth,” Darian started.
“No.” Varyth’s eyes never left mine. “She wants to leave? Let her.”
The words carved themselves into my spine, sharp and brutal.
“You’re right,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I am leaving. And you know what? I’m glad it meant nothing. Saves me the trouble of having to care.”
“Good.”
“Perfect.”
“Would you both just—” Darian tried one more time.
“I’m done with this.” I backed toward the door, even as every part of me screamed to stay. “Whatever you think this is, whatever game you’re playing, I’m not interested.”
“Then go. No one’s stopping you.”
I turned and walked out before he could see my hands shaking.
Behind me, I heard Darian mutter, “That was—both of you just—do you have any idea what you—”
“Don’t.” Varyth snarled.
I didn’t stop walking.
Didn’t look back.
There was nothing between us.
Nothing at all.
We’d both just said so.