Chapter 3

My throat tightened; the words lodged there, refusing to come out. I turned and walked away.

When I reached the stairs, a small teddy was tossed from nearby, landing at my feet.

The sight of it blurred my vision. Whenever my parents were away and the house felt too big and lonely, I would sleep at Thor's place. He had a room for me there, and I could only fall asleep clutching that bear.

As I stood frozen, Thor continued to throw more stuff my way. The pajamas, photos, and toothbrushes I'd left at his house lay scattered at my feet.

Thor's voice was cold and clipped. "Since we're breaking up, take your things and go."

In the past, I would have sobbed and raged, begged him not to be cruel, then curled up and let the matter slide. But not now. I crouched down and collected my stuff with a steady hand.

There were too many to carry. When I looked up and saw the fireplace, I walked over and began tossing things into the hearth. Flames hungrily licked the paper and leather; a loud sizzle swallowed the objects as they were consumed. Let the fire burn everything—let it even burn away the ache inside me.

Thor stared at me, stunned, disbelief written across his face.

Lina wandered over and handed him half an apple, a deliberate little distraction. He glanced at it, ignored the teeth marks on the flesh, and bit into it as if nothing mattered.

My fingers tightened. He was obsessive about cleanliness—he wouldn't touch a banana I'd already eaten—but he had no trouble taking a bite of Lina's apple. Clearly, his fastidiousness applied selectively. She mattered to him in a way I no longer did.

I turned away, exhaustion and helplessness settling into my bones. I thought the pain would last forever, but it numbed quicker than I'd expected.

At the door, Lina intercepted me. I looked at her with cool detachment as she smiled radiantly.

"If you're really breaking up with him, just do it properly—don't keep coming back to pester Thor," she said, her tone sharp beneath the sweetness.

I frowned. "This is between him and me. It's none of your business."

Her smile deepened until it was almost malicious. "Our relationship is getting closer. I love him, so his matters are my matters now.

"You keep saying you want to break up, then you always regret it. He's run out of patience with you—he's sick of your temper. He doesn't want to coax you anymore. Do us both a favor and stop bothering him. Your clinging just makes him disgusted."

A coldness dropped over me. I was about to reply when she pushed on, flaunting her victory.

"Also, you should change your university plans. I'm going to the same school as him. If you end up there too, I'll watch him grow to despise you—watch him treat you like a stranger while I walk into the chapel beside him."

Anger flared in the depths of my eyes.

"You're insane. Go get help." I wanted to hurl worse insults at her, but arguing with someone like that felt pointless.

I tried to walk past, but she grabbed my arm, stopping me. "You're the sick one—always clinging to Thor. No wonder Thor doesn't love you."

I had been holding myself back, but her brazen arrogance finally cracked something in me. I wrenched free and shouted, "Don't touch me!"

She looked at me with loathing and kept pushing. "Who wants to touch you? Haven't you noticed Thor won't even kiss you anymore? He thinks you're dirty. You were kidnapped before, and you're tainted."

Those words made my blood boil. I didn't think—I reacted. My hand shot out and slapped her across the face.