“Why do you always ask questions you already freaking know the answers to!” I roared.
His eyebrows shot up. “Alex’s yelling, I’m used to. This is new for someone normally so calm, so reserved, so loyal.” He made the word sound dirty.
I glared and then flipped him off.
The bastard laughed even harder. “I can’t wait to tell Ethan.”
“You aren’t telling anyone.” I stood to my feet, wobbly, but at least I was standing. “This is a onetime slipup, a mistake a—”
“Why do you think her blood sings to you, Mason?”
I ignored the burning truth in my chest, the signs, the monster within. “Because I’m a wolf. I stopped eating red meat. Red meat contains blood. Therefore, it’s a misplaced craving.” There. That sounded good even to me.
“You are not what you think you are.” Cassius’ eyes went white as a chill overtook the room. Great. Just great. I hated when he went full-angel. Especially now that I’d tasted blood, now that I’d messed up so roy
ally I was most likely going to get struck down or at least punished. “And yet, you’re exactly what you think you are. You’re just too scared to admit it.”
I looked away. I had to. The truth was like a punch to the chest.
Blood, mine and hers, covered the floor.
Mine, from trying to claw my way from the war with my wolf, the one where I’d tried to throw myself from a cliff in an effort to take back control.
And hers, from my attack.
God, I’d attacked her like the monster I was.
Like a savage animal.
I still tasted her on my lips.
“Hmm…” Cassius tapped his temple. “…our pasts can only stay locked up for so long. Don’t you ever wonder why your human mate died to begin with?” His wings spread out from his body like tentacles testing the air. “You mated with one because it was how things were done, but your soul has always belonged… to another.”
He disappeared.
Without judgement.
Without punishment.
And maybe that was the point. I’d already spent an eternity in a prison of my own making. It would be useless to give me another.
When I was so good at staying in mine.
Until now.
I eyed the stairway with hesitancy.
The stairs creaked under Timber’s weight. “I feel like I should stay and watch the show, take notes, make popcorn,” he teased, “but if what Cassius just whispered in the air is true, then I probably don’t want to be anywhere near this house for another few weeks.”
“Out.” I jabbed my fingers toward the door.
He grinned and then shrugged. “Maybe if you stopped keeping secrets from your friends and family, you wouldn’t lash out and bite the first girl who wants to adopt a puppy.”
“I will rip your throat from your neck with ease, demon. Now leave.”
He leaned in. “After what I saw, I think I believe you. Have fun!”
He shoved past me.