“I’ve always loved Octavia, Dani. It’s always been her, not you. Don’t you see that? You. Are. Not. Enough.”
A sob escapes my lips.
“Don’t listen to him, Dani!” Killian shouts.
“But... but you said you loved me,” my voice trembles; each syllable is laced with heartbreak. “You said you loved me more than forever...” I feel a quiver run through my lips, a physical manifestation of the raw emotion surging within me. The air feels heavy, as if the words hang suspended between us, aching with the weight of unfulfilled promises.
“I belong to Octavia. I don’t love you, Dani.” He walks back over to her, placing his arm lovingly around her waist like he usually does with me, and she melts into him. “She is my one true mate. She always has been.”
Just when I think my heart couldn’t possibly shatter anymore, he rips it out and stomps on it.
“You fucking bastard!” Dax yells, his face turning red from anger.
Octavia holds up her hand, showing me the symbol that is shaded in darkly on her skin.
“No…” I whisper.
I’m going to throw up.
Adonis turns his head, grabbing Octavia’s tattooed hand with his. Their matching demonic runes stare back at me, and I feel like I’m going to die. She turns towards him, placing her hand on his jaw, and pulls him in for another kiss.
I inch myself closer to Dax, finally able to touch him and reach out towards Killian. I latch on to both of their hands, and they are suddenly released from Octavia’s hold.
“Now, Dax!” Killian shouts, breaking Adonis and Octavia’s kiss. Killian pulls the knife from my side and starts healing me quickly.
Dax thrusts his hands forward with every ounce of strength he can muster; a fierce determination ignites within him. Vibrant flames erupt from his palms, swirling and crackling with raw energy. A fireball, glowing like the heart of a star, hurtles through the air towards Adonis and Octavia.The impact is thunderous, knocking them both off their feet and sending them sprawling to the ground.
The heat surrounds us as the fiery blast engulfs the space in a blinding flash.
“You little worm!” Octavia shouts. She holds out her hand but stops when she sees what I’m holding.
Her hand searches her neck, panic showcasing her features.
I shake the necklace I ripped from her neck while I was clawing at her face, and smile as Dax and Killian wrap me in their shadows.
I quickly look at Adonis, one last time for a sign.
His eyes find mine, all I’m left with are empty blue eyes, cold as ice… there is nothing left.
Chapter 37
Adonis
Fuck!I silently curse to myself. The look on Dani’s face was one of absolute heartbreak and betrayal. I took her heart, ripped it out, then smashed it right in front of her.
Doesn’t she realize that she is my destined mate? That my heart beats for her more fiercely than any trivial bond ever could? That I would move mountains, shift the very earth beneath her feet, just to bring her happiness?
I played Dani, hoping she would see through the bullshit and understand that my actions are a mere pretense and that my true focus is her, not Octavia. But I was too harsh, too caught up in the game of lies for her to notice that I didn’t mean any of it.
When Dani called her a ‘fucking bitch’, it took everything in me not to smile at my smart-mouthed mate.
Gods, I love her so much.Can’t she see that?
I would trade anything, anything at all, for one last chance to press my lips against hers, to feel the warmth of her embrace, to be lost in the magic of her one more time.
Kicking her was awful; I want to be kicked a thousand times just to be punished for what I did. I want to feel pain, to be hurt, for what I did. I’ll take one thousand lashes to the back, just to take away the pain I physically and mentally caused her.
I knew Dax and Killian would quickly heal her, but that was still one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
