We just sat there staring at each other until a soft knock came at the door. “Come in,” Rowan called out, his eyes never leaving mine.
Clara entered with a cart. “I brought your four bottles, just in case, and the chef gave me two slices of your favorite strawberry cake, Amy.” She smiled, pushing the cart closer. “I’ll just leave the cart here. Once you’re finished, push it out into the hall.” She gave us a small bow and left.
I grabbed my glass and took another sip as he finished the first bottle. After a minute, I leaned back. “Well, if you aren’t going to explain, we can skip this awkwardness and go our separate ways.”
He nodded. “That’s what I’ve been debating.”
“I don’t think I could live with myself if I didn’t at least try.” He nodded toward my chair. “Please.”
I to him? Maybe there is a reason. I pursed my lips, considering. Nix whispered softly.
Her words nearly broke me. A reason good enough for everything he did?
She looked at Megan, who nodded.
I don’t know. But I want all the information before you make a decision.
“Fine.” I sat and resumed eating. I finished my wine, grabbed a second bottle, and filled both our glasses. “Start at the beginning, then.”
He nodded once before cutting into his steak. “Well then.” He smirked. “You had me hooked as soon as you asked me to torture someone.” I laughed, but he looked at me with hungry eyes. “Then I saw you, and I was sold. But it was who you are…that made me fall completely in love with you.”
He continued, recounting our time together until he reached my heat. “I knew you’d hate me if we went any farther. I had to force myself away. Even Erubus was struggling, and he was set on a beautiful she-wolf from the forest.” He smirked again.
I had finished my meal and was swirling my wine. “So you left…” I took a sip, focusing on the present, not the past.
He nodded. “I went back to my place and was going insane. So I called your father.”
“My dad?” I picked at the cake, my stomach churning. “Why?”
“Because I wanted his advice.” He took a drink. “Believe it or not, I don’t have a lot of friends.”
I nearly snorted wine out my nose. I coughed. “You don’t say?”
He laughed, then his smile faded. “I called because I wanted him to tell me it was okay to choose you instead of waiting for my mate.” He took a sip directly from the bottle. “You can guess how well that turned out.” He snorted.
“What did he say?” My words were soft.
“He said we had to play this smart, and getting together then would have put a target on your back. Vince, Brandon—they wouldn’t have touched you with a ten-foot pole. And your dad needed you to get close to them.” He took a longer drink. “He told me to create space between us. That he’d explain everything when the time came, but for our plans to work, I needed to leave you alone.”
My heart cracked open. “Your letter said you and he made the plans…but I didn’t know he told you that.”
“You read the letters?” He looked a little lost.
I nodded. “When I found out about them…a few days ago.” I grabbed a bottle and opened it. Might as well. “Before that, I was kept in the dark. You left me, and then you ignored me.”
Chapter 508
“Ignored you?” He shook his head. “I never ignored you. I called, emailed. You didn’t answer. So when your dad came to me about helping you…I created Thoth.” He emptied the bottle. “Not like it mattered.”
I growled. “Not that it mattered?” I slapped a hand on my chest. “It mattered to me.”
“You ignored me!” He screamed. “I was drowning without you, and you ignored me!”
I stood up. “I never fucking ignored you. You ignored me!” I screamed. “You fucking left me when I needed you most, and then you wouldn’t answer my calls, my texts. Nothing. I FUCKING LOVED YOU AND YOU LEFT ME!”
Chapter 508