Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
Iheld my breath as I watched Torin’s head descending toward Layla. This couldn’t be happening. It was as if I watched a slow-motion clip from a horror movie where the hero was about to do something stupid.
Hayden’s warm hand rested on my back, his body heat seeping into me, as if to calm and support me.
My gaze aimed at Torin, whose lips were inches away from Layla’s.
And then their mouths connected in a kiss. Layla lifted on her toes to deepen the kiss, and Torin didn’t pull away.
He could have, though, if he remembered he had a mate. But apparently, the bond between Torin and me wasn’t strong enough to withstand the seductive ways of my cousin. Did it mean Torin was my chosen mate, then?
My stomach churned, and nausea swirled dangerously, rising in my throat.
Torin’s and Layla’s mouths were still connected when Hayden pulled my body back. He embraced me from behind.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Just breathe,” he whispered.
I clutched my stomach, and Hayden’s hands slid to my abdomen and massaged circles, heating the spot.
“Slow down your breathing,” he said and breathed deeply to urge me to do the same.
I couldn’t believe I was being consoled by one of my mates while I was breaking because my other mate kissed my archenemy. I had to get a grip on myself soon. I felt mortified to crumble so completely in Hayden's embrace.
I sobered up and wiped my eyes.
“Do you want to come to my room tonight? It’s not an invitation to have sex with me, sweetheart. Just sleep next to me so you calm down. Mates can calm each other.”
Maybe. But mostly, I wanted the earth to open and swallow me whole.
“Why are you so calm?” I turned and looked at my bodyguard.
It was his default, but his mate was crying over another man. Wasn’t Hayden supposed to be mad or upset or angry with me?
“Did you know that Torin had a thing for Layla? That’s why you patiently waited on the sidelines until I figured it out. Is that it, Hayden?”
“No, sweetheart. I’m patient because you need time. It has nothing to do with Torin.”
I sighed. “Let me talk to him.”
“You sure? I mean, if you punch him, I won’t protest,” Hayden said with a silly smile.
I scoffed. “I’m not sure what I’ll do.”
As I took the first step toward the couple, a thought popped into my head, and I halted.
Torin could have gotten tired of waiting for me to figure out which mate I wanted. He had every right to move on with someone else.
I wasn’t going to unleash my temper.
I took the turn and strolled toward Torin and Layla. When he saw me coming, Torin pushed off the wall and dashed toward me.
“I was waiting for you, Anna,” he said, and I blinked.
I peered at his side. Layla twisted a long strand of hair around her finger.
Did he think I hadn’t seen him kiss Layla?
“How could you kiss my cousin? I thought…” I paused. “I was stupid.”
Torin’s amber eyes widened as big as the moon outside. “Kiss her? What are you talking about, Anna?”
I walked past him and stepped in front of Layla. She looked dazed, gaping at me.
Then she recovered, cleared her throat, and started down the hall. “Think what you want, dear cousin.”
Torin let out a low growl and crossed in front of me, blocking my way. “What’s gotten into you? Why would you say something like that?”
“Are you taking me for a fool, Torin? I can’t believe you deny kissing Layla. I saw you, and Hayden saw you. With my own eyes,” I said.
Hayden stood behind me in an instant.
“Torin, it’s probably not a good time now to make excuses,” Hayden said, shaking his head.
Torin’s crimson eyes flashed and aimed at Hayden. His body shook, and he looked ready to pounce on him.
“Torin. It’s not Hayden’s fault. You will not hit him. Understood?”
Torin tilted his head. “Hayden was with you when this supposed kiss happened?”
My mouth fell open.
Torin was so strange. How could my eyes deceive me?
“Yes, Hayden was behind me at the beginning of the hallway.”
Torin scrutinized Hayden up and down and made an “umph” sound with his throat. At least he wasn’t growling anymore.
Torin then looked at me. “Let’s go inside your room, and I’ll explain.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Hayden deadpanned. “Breanna, you can come to my room if you don’t want him to break inside as usual.”
I drew in a deep breath. I wanted to hear Torin’s explanation. He wasn’t himself. Had I missed anything?
“It’s okay. He can come to my room. He has five minutes.”
Torin moved aside, without disconnecting his gaze from Hayden’s, and followed me inside my room.
When the door clicked behind us, Torin stood in front of me. “Hayden must have done something. You have to believe me. I didn’t kiss Layla.”
The conviction in his voice would have made me believe him, but I saw it with my own eyes.
Was Torin not going to admit to it? I didn’t need him to make excuses.
I put my hand up. “Regardless, why were you waiting for me at my room?”
He ran his hand through his hair. “You don’t believe me, do you?
I didn’t think it would hurt that much. You not trusting me”—he rubbed the spot over his heart, something I often did—“is a new low for me.” He took a deep breath.
“I won’t change your mind tonight, so we’ll talk about that kiss you apparently saw tomorrow.
The only thing I wanted to tell you was about Layla’s proposition. ”
I flinched.
“Layla asked me to act as her fake mate to prove to the Alphas that I’m not into you or after the throne, to erase any doubts about it. I’m not thrilled about her idea, but if I don’t do as Layla demands, I won’t be able to stay in the kingdom next to you.”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“I know Layla is using the situation and making things worse, but I don’t see another option. What else can we do? Whatever we try, we can’t be together, and it’s killing me. I love you, Anna.”
His crimson gaze pierced my soul. Love and desperation flashed behind his eyes, but the betrayal had left me so hurt that I didn’t know what else to say to him, so I only nodded. I wished my heart would stop aching.
“I think you should leave, Torin,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He took a step back, as if my words had struck him. He blinked and nodded.
As my bedroom door shut behind him, I rushed to my closet and pulled out a backpack. Moving around my bedroom, I picked up my magic book and dropped it in, as well as the vouchers Torin gave me as a birthday present.
I stared at my cell phone and left it on my nightstand. I changed out of my clothes, put on a fresh pair of jeans and a shirt, and then went to bed.
Tomorrow I would leave the kingdom. Not for good. Just until I could start breathing easily again.
I needed only one person to comfort me right now. Tammy.