Ivy
My heart may have stopped beating. Everything feels suddenly too tight, too close.
I need to breathe. I unclench my hands from the front of Conall's shirt and press my flat palms against his chest. His arms stay around me, green eyes pleading.
I press firmer and he reluctantly lets go.
The loss of his grounding touch makes me wrap my arms around myself.
"I thought we agreed that was just for show. A lie Nick made up to keep me on the island until the wards could be fixed." I insist, somehow still hoping Conall is going to tell me I'm right. Mates? We couldn't…
Except I'd felt a pull toward him, that endless draw, since I'd gotten here. I just figured it was the protection spell. He let me think it was the protection spell. Heat rushes through me, sharp and sudden.
"You knew and decided to keep it from me?" I ask, and I'm so angry that my voice comes out smaller than I intend.
"No," Conall insists, stepping toward me, but I step back.
He breathes, hands clenched at his sides.
"No. I really thought it was the protection spell.
That it had gone wrong just like the spell on the wards.
But then Nick brought up mates and Laz discovered that the spell Shipton had done on the wards wasn't broken, just incomplete, and I started to realize it was more than possible that we were mates.
I didn't know right away. My hound, he's a part of me but separate too.
He knew. He kept saying it but I thought he was just being an overprotective ass.
I didn't want to tell you until I was sure. "
"Why?" The word comes out thin. "Because being mated to me would be so horrible?"
His jaw clenches. His eyes lift to mine and then drop again. My heart sinks. I turn and walk.
"No, Ivy—" He calls after me.
"Leave me alone, Conall." I manage to keep the tears out of my voice. I need to go home. Back to Everlane Cottage. For however long it's still mine.