I don’t know much about relationships, but I do know they require honesty to survive. What secret could be so big that Kallen won’t trust me with it after all we’ve been through? “I am so sick of this.” I pound on my chest with my index finger as I practically shout, “I can’t keep myself, or anyone else, safe if I don’t know what I’m up against. Your little secrets just got me attacked. But I’m supposed to sit back and say, okay, he’ll tell me when he’s ready? You know what? I’ll do what I came here to do because I gave my word, and I don’t do that unless I intend to follow through. But from now on, I’ll use my magic anyway I see fit to keep my realm safe. If that means collateral damage resulting in innocent Fairies getting hurt, or even it means blowing up your whole damn realm, because I don’t have the right information about who’s my enemy and who’s not, then let that rest on your conscience, not mine. I’m also not going to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t have enough faith or trust in me to tell me the truth. So, you need to keep your distance from me. If you can’t be honest with me about whatever is going on here, or everything else, then our relationship is a complete fraud. As soon as I take care of these Fairies, I’m out of here. The sooner that happens, the better.” Pulling my magic back inside of me, I don’t even register the shocked look on both guys’ faces. I stalk out of the water on my stinging and bleeding legs that are getting sorer as the sea water soaks into them. Maybe not the most graceful exit ever, but I manage. I walk past the body gasping for breath on the beach without even acknowledging her presence. I walk towards the stairs that lead back to the house, and, without looking back towards any of them, I walk to the house.
I can’t believe this. I get attacked and Kallen still doesn’t want to give me all the information I need. How can I protect myself if I don’t know who or what I should be protecting myself from? If Kallen follows me right now, he’ll be sorry.
After a couple of wrong turns, I finally find my room. Why does this stupid house have to be so big? Slamming the door after me, I stomp across the room, push back the netting and flop onto my bed, not caring what my bloody legs and the salt water on me will do to the yellow comforter. I thought I would calm down once I got here, but magic is still swirling inside of me at lightning speed. I try to force it down, but it won’t go. It’s attached to my agitation. Who is this Xeniaa person? She has to be someone important to Kallen. Otherwise, he’d be a bit more forthcoming with the information. Is she someone he cares about? Do I really want to know if she is? Growling out loud, I sit up and throw one of the frilly pillows from the bed as hard as I can out onto the terrace.
“Was that really necessary?” Kegan asks as he walks through the silk curtains holding the pillow. “These pillows are supposed to be for decoration, not used as weapons.”
Why is he here? And how did he get here? “Go away.”
“And have both my grandmother and Kallen angry with me for leaving you alone? That is something even I will not risk.”
I glare at him. “Trust me; you have more to fear from me than you do them.”
Kegan spends several heartbeats staring at me with furrowed brows. Why doesn’t he leave already? “You are serious,” he finally says.
I cock my head and sigh in frustration. “Yes, I am. Will you please go away now?”
“Who are you?”
What kind of stupid question is that? “We’ve already been introduced. I’m Xandra, your Kegan. Now will you go away?” He’s too much like Kallen, both in looks and personality, to be around me right now. I’m just getting more and more annoyed.
“I know your name. But, who
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