“No,” I say, just as bluntly.
“Fine,” he says and clears his throat. “I know how angry you are with me. I want to explain.”
Angry doesn’t quite cover it but go on.
He blinks as I say nothing and continues. “I will start with: I didn’t let him walk off into the sunset, as you put it. He will suffer the consequences, trust me,” he says quietly.
I gulp at that and wonder how but have the good sense not to ask. The silence starts to grow uncomfortable as we both just sit there not looking at each other.
“Constantine,” I say, getting a bit sick of the lack of conversation, “I don’t understand. You will have to explain it to me how you forgave him and what his reasons were for doing what he did. You used the word ‘misguided’ earlier. You use that term to describe charges’ stupidity when protecting their sires. What was he trying to protect you from? Me?” My voice wavers slightly and he looks up, pain in his eyes caused by my pain.
“In short, yes,” he says, knowing there is no point in lying to me.
“I see. He doesn’t think I am good enough for you. He clearly has a very bad opinion of me,” I say, remembering the ‘wanton little whore’ comment.
“He doesn’t think that. He only said it to rile you up and hurt you. And no, that is not the reason.” He pauses and runs his hand through his hair in a clear sign of agitation.
“Then what?” I press.
“He was trying to orchestrate a plan whereby you left Cole and you then belonged to me,” he says with a sigh of magnitude.
I just stare at him because I have no words.
“Part of his gift, Aefre, is the power of suggestion. He used it on you to get what he wanted you to do and then planted the guilt there as well. I’m not saying that you don’t feel guilty,” he adds hastily as he sees my expression turn thunderous, “but the volume of it, the self-loathing. That was Sebastian. Unfortunately for him, you are strong, and it didn’t work exactly according to plan.”
“Meaning?” I snap.
“When he uses his ability, you aren’t supposed to know what is happening. You said before that you didn’t want to do it but had no choice? You weren’t supposed to feel that way. You were supposed to want it and then feel guilty about it afterwards. Bit by bit, he was going to use you and plant the idea in your head that you wanted to leave Cole and be with me. It is a stupid plan. But sadly, one that works. I have seen him play this game with couples for his own amusement too many times,” he adds. “I’m sorry, Aefre. It is all my fault. But I wish you had told me. I told you secrets come out and they hurt twice as much when they do.”
I can’t believe what my ears have just heard. He was trying to break up me and Cole so I could be with our sire. A stupid plan indeed, but one that probably would have worked, as Constantine says. All it would take is one of us leaving the other and he would come in and claim me. It doesn’t matter if it’s a day or a hundred years. If Cole is gone, he is gone.
“I assume that I was spelled to not tell you, either,” I say to that.
He shakes his head. “No, that was all you,” he says, somewhat smug but trying not to show it.
“Humph,” I say rudely. “How did you make him suffer?” I ask, now wanting to know.
“It is not your concern. Just know that he will never do it again.”
“Fine. I accept your explanation. But I want an apology from him. A proper one with over-the-top anguish and gifts,” I say, standing. “I am his Queen and he will not treat me like some kind of toy to play with.”
“I will tell him,” Constantine says, now also standing.
I nod and brushing past him I head, much to his relief, to the bathroom. I need a good long soak and I’m aching to get rid of these pajamas. They are so not my thing. Stepping into the bath, I turn the taps on and add my favorite lavender bubble bath and let it soak into my skin as the bath fills up. I duck under as it gets deep enough and just stay under the water for a while. When I surface, Constantine is sitting there staring at me. I blink the water out of my eyes and stare back at him.
“How come you never talk to me like that?” he asks so quietly I almost don’t hear him.
Completely at a loss, I ask, “Like what?”
“Like you do with your Wolf,” he mutters almost as if he doesn’t want to.
Geez, how long was he listening to us? I chew my lip thoughtfully, mostly in an effort not to burst out laughing. “I wasn’t aware that you had a need for validation, my love,” I say, now completely over my anger as he shows me his vulnerable side.
He stares down his nose at me, eyes narrowed. “I do not need validation, my sweet. But it might be nice, once in a while, to have you say some of those things to me.” He pauses as an unsavory thought crosses his mind, “Unless you don’t feel that way.”
I do chuckle out loud now and say, “Of course I feel that way. I love you, you idiot.”
He looks pleased as I say that but asks, “Then why don’t you ever say those things to me?”