The Mate He Rejected
For a heartbeat, she turned, her eyes scanning the shadows of the corridor.
I held my breath, pressing myself deeper into the dark corner.
She didn't see me. She let out a long, ragged sigh, gathered her skirt, and hurried down the hall toward our private suite.
I remained pinned to the wall long after she was gone. My hand pressed over my own mouth to stifle the ragged, uneven intake of air.
He is weak. He loves being the hero.
Those words echoed through my mind, a jagged, rusted blade carving through the foundation of my entire life. Was that all I was? A prop for his pride? A fool manipulated by tears?