Chapter 73
Reyna
Cassian leaves me alone in the midst of these high–society criminal supernaturals and their wives, and I feel like a gazelle surrounded by lions.
Traitor, Meadow growls inside my head.
I grit my teeth, but I don’t push her down. I let her anger flash in my eyes as a warning to the people here.
I walk away from them with my head high, still pretending like I belong.
The problem is, I’m not actually one of them.
My father might not have left me with his debts, but he barely left me any inheritance, so I have no money.
All of his businesses failed, so I have no corporate assets or power in the business world.
I should. My blood is as old as theirs. I’m entitled to all of it. But just because my father made a few mistakes, they all think they’re better than me.
If he hadn’t been weakened by his attachment to Lisette and Gemma, I might still have the inheritance that’s rightfully mine.
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&
+7 Bonus
But I don’t have it. I don’t have anything except Cassian and my connection to him. That’s what I have to use to retake my rightful place in the world. Once I’m his wife, all my problems will disappear.
But right now, I need to be the one that disappears out of this place. Because these women are looking at me the way they were looking at Gemma earlier.
Not like I’m a talented member of their own society…
Like I’m some kind of money grubbing gold digger.
I slink away out the back door of the venue and get a cab.
Gemma is going to pay for what happened today.
*****
Gemma
I’m in a daze as Cassian pulls me out the front door of the venue and calls for his car.
He stood up for me today more than once, Even when I snapped at him, even when I messed up and aired our personal details in public, he stood up for me.
So…this is what it feels like to be protected.
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No wonder Reyna acts like nothing can touch her.
With Cassian on your side, nothing can.
+7 Bonus
Even though I wasn’t upset during any of the confrontations in the party, now that we’re outside alone, I feel like crying.
An aching hurt washes through my chest. One I can’t stop or make better, no matter how hard I try.
I always thought that Cassian doesn’t know how to protect me- not physically, of course, but emotionally.
Except he does know how.
He always could have been doing this.
He just never wanted to.
I suffered all these years because Cassian is willing to let me suffer.
He shields me from prying eyes as we climb into the back of the car that comes around. Once the door is shut and we’re both in the back seat, he turns to me.
“You know Sibille invited you to that party just to embarrass you in front of people. You know I want a chance to introduce you to our world, myself, Why did you go?”
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I look at him blankly, then shrug. “Yeah, I knew. I went on purpose.”
+7 Bonus
“On purpose? Why?” Cassian practically snarls. But for once, I don’t think it’s because he’s angry at just me. I think he’s frustrated with the entire situation.
I flush, because all my reasons seem stupid now. Instead of answering, I turn to look out the window.
He slides across the seat until he’s right behind me and wraps one big hand gently around my upper arm. He lowers his head so it rests on the back of mine and inhales deeply.
“Gemma…” he says in a rough voice. “For three years, I haven’t tried to understand you. Maybe it wasn’t fair.”
I laugh bitterly. “Maybe?”
He pulls me against him so that my back rests against his chest. I don’t resist. I’m surrounded by his scent and the feeling of safety.
I know the feeling won’t last, I know his tenderness won’t last, but I can’t help but lean back into it. I have nothing else. I need him so badly.
“It wasn’t fair,” he says. His arms slide around my waist, holding me tight against him.
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His fingers begin to stroke my sides, spreading a searing heat through the thin fabric of my dress. “Tell me why you went today.”
When he touches me like this, when heat is spreading from my skin to my core and my whole being is focused on his hands, I can’t think straight, let alone lie.
My reasons were stupid, and honestly? They work against each other.
“I…I wanted to see if I could handle her,” I say.
“You know you can handle her. I heard you at the family dinner.
Tell me the real reason.”
I want to groan as he lowers his lips, and they brush my bare shoulder. I lift my arms up behind me and wrap them around
him.
“Because I wanted to see your world.”
“You were at an underworld party the other night. You were there with your friends.”
I exhale as he opens his mouth and gently bites my skin. His voice is low and rough. “Tell me the real reason, Gemma.”
The words are pulled from me, and I speak without meaning to.
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“Because I wanted to maneuver you into a divorce.”
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