Chapter 6 - Lying To His Face

Fantine

I didn’t get far.

The hallway felt endless and too tight at the same time. My boots slapped against the floor, echoing louder than they should. Riley’s footsteps followed, steady and determined.

“Fantine, wait!”

I didn’t. I kept moving. But the equipment-room door was the only place to go, and it wasn’t getting any closer.

I was almost there when Riley grabbed my elbow and spun me around. My back hit the wall. He boxed me in, one hand beside my head, the other near my shoulder. He was breathing hard, eyes intense enough to pin me in place.

“Stop running from me,” he said.

My heart went wild. The mate bond surged like it had been waiting for this exact moment. Ava pushed forward in my mind, practically begging me to touch him.

“I need to get the camera,” I muttered.

“Forget the camera. Why are you avoiding me?”

“I’m not.”

“Bullshit.” He stepped closer, and the wall pressed harder into my spine. “Every time I come near you, you run. Why?”

Because I’m supposed to kill you. Because you’re the mission. Because being near you makes me feel things I shouldn’t.

“I don’t owe you anything, Mr Porter. Not even an explanation,” I said. I tried to sound cold. I probably just sounded out of breath.

Riley wasn’t buying it. “You felt it. The bond. Don’t pretend you didn’t.”

“I don’t believe in fate, bonds or any of that bullshit,” I snapped. “Whatever’s happening is just attraction. That’s it.”

He stared at me, jaw tight. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” He slid closer, his mouth almost brushing my ear. “Your heart’s going crazy. Your eyes won’t stay off my mouth. And you’re shaking.” His voice dropped. “You want me. Same way I want you.”

Goodness gracious, I hated how true that was.

“You’re delusional,” I said. “I’m not interested. Not now, not ever.”

Something in his expression cracked. He hid it fast, but I saw it.

“Nothing?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

He leaned in like he was going to kiss me, and for half a second I didn’t move. For half a second I wanted him to.

Then I shoved him away and bolted.

I slammed into the equipment room, locked the door, and leaned against it, shaking so hard it hurt.

Get it together.

I’d survived worse. I’d been trained for worse. But five minutes with Riley and my brain and body were on fire.

Ava whined in my head, miserable. He’s ours. Why are you fighting?

“He’s the enemy,” I whispered.

My voice didn’t sound very convincing.

I grabbed the camera with shaking hands and dragged myself back out to the rink.

*******

The match was rough, not because of the game, but because I couldn’t stop filming Riley.

He played like he was trying to kill the ice. Aggressive, reckless, nothing like the controlled captain everyone adored. And every time he wasn’t slamming into someone, he was looking at me.

Staring, really.

Coach yelled at him more than once. It didn’t matter. Riley kept drifting back to me like he couldn’t help it.

And I hated how my body reacted every time our eyes met.

By the end, Blackwater won 5–2. The crowd went insane. I just wanted to get out of there.

“Fantine!” Jayden skated over, sweating and grinning. “Did you get my goal?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. After-party tonight. Omega House. You’re coming.”

“I—”

“You’re coming,” he repeated, dragging two teammates over. Someone grabbed a phone.

“Group photo! Lennox, get in here!”

They pulled me in. Someone’s hand landed on my waist. I forced a smile and waited for the flash.

Then the whole room shifted.

The air got heavy and cold.

Riley stood across the locker area, helmet in hand, staring at me with a look that could peel paint off walls. When he saw the guy’s hand on my waist, something in him snapped.

He crossed the room in seconds and ripped the guy’s hand away from me.

“Don’t touch my mate.”

Silence hit the room like a bomb. Heads turned. Mouths dropped.

Jayden blinked. “Riley…..what the hell—”

Riley didn’t even hear him. His attention was glued to me, eyes burning.

The guy whose wrist he’d grabbed frowned. “Dude, what’s your problem?”

“My problem is you touching what’s mine.”

Heat flooded my face, anger, embarrassment, everything mixed together.

I shoved past Jayden and glared at Riley. “What’s yours? Did you lose your mind?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“No, I don’t. Because I don’t belong to you.”

“The hell you don’t.” His voice shook with how hard he was holding back. “You’re my mate. Whether you admit it or not.”

Whispers exploded behind us.

“You had no right,” I said through my teeth. “No right to act like that, no right to announce it, and no right to touch anyone.”

“Then stop pretending,” he shot back. “Stop pretending you don’t feel the same thing.”

“I don’t.”

“Liar.” He stepped close enough that I had to tilt my head back. “Your body gives you away every time.”

I wanted to punch him. Or kiss him. Or both.

“I’m leaving,” I said.

He grabbed my wrist. Not hard, just enough to hold me there. “Not until you admit it.”

“Admit what?”

“That you’re mine.” His voice went low, almost soft. “Say it, Fantine. Say it to me.”

For a second, one stupid second, I almost did.

Then I remembered the mission.

I tore my hand free. “I don’t belong to you. And if you ever pull something like that again? I’ll make sure you regret it.”

I grabbed my bag and walked out without looking back.

But I felt his eyes on me the whole way out.

And I knew this was nowhere close to being done.