Shythe.” He stretched out his hand. A current of Charge flickered across his palm. “But, no one knows. And no one can.” I heard the threat in Reese’s voice.
Jace stared at Reese as he doused his Charge, and then he turned his glare on me. “How could you not tell me this, Dez? I trusted you. I love—” He clamped his mouth and eyes shut at the same time. Then he looked at me again, pain swirling inside the blue light of his irises. “I don’t know what you are, but you’re not Shythe. Just…” He hung his head before looking straight into my eyes. “I want nothing to do with you.” He turned and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
My legs gave as I fell to the floor. The rejection I’d feared from him my whole life had finally happened. His words stung worse than if I’d been stabbed with my own Charge Dagger. I’d rather have been stabbed.
Reese knelt beside me. “Dez, he’s in shock.” He picked me up and carried me over to a desk. “He’ll calm down. I just hope he doesn’t say anything to anyone in the meantime.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Jace is loyal. Despite his hatred for me now, he’s always loyal. He won’t tell anyone.” A hot tear slid down my cheek. It hurt to breathe.
Jace wouldn’t betray me. Not like I’d betrayed him. But he’d never look at me the same again. Ever. I’d hurt him in so many ways. I’d deceived him—with Reese, behind his back. And I’d lied to him all these years about who I really was. The latter probably hurt him more. No. I’d equally crushed him when he saw me kissing another guy. I buried my face in my hands. I’d just lost my best friend forever.
Reese brought me to his unit against my pleading and fear we’d get caught. However, I didn’t want to go back to mine. I couldn’t face Lana without her knowing something major had happened. She’d know the moment she saw my face, and I didn’t know what to tell her. Reese assured me his roommate was gone for the weekend and the faculty wouldn’t find out. I didn’t have the strength to argue.
Lana had sent me a data message, wondering where I’d disappeared to. She obviously hadn’t talked to Jace yet or she’d be freaking out about our breakup. I was sure Jace would tell her that much. Her message was too calm. I sent her one back, telling her I’d gone to visit my mom. I’d have to invent an explanation for why Jace and I’d broken up, eventually. But I couldn’t think about that now. Truthfully, I was tired of all the lies and secrets.
I lay down on Reese’s bed, and he covered me with a blanket. “Just relax,” he said. “Don’t try and figure everything out right now.”
My eyes stung as I pressed the heel of my hands against them. “I could’ve handled that better somehow.” Tucking my hand under his pillow, I glanced up at him. “There are so many problems now. Not just with Jace, but the Councils, too. I feel like things are completely falling apart.”
Reese sat down on the edge of his bed and stroked my hair. “It seems worse right now because you’re upset. We’ll figure it out, but not now.” He raised his eyebrows. “Okay?”
I nodded into his pillow. “So we’re good? I mean, you and me…together?” My face prickled with heat. I wanted things to be right between us.
“Yeah.” Reese lay down beside me and stared into my eyes. “I’m sorry. But when I saw Jace kiss you”—his eyes flashed—“I went a little berserk. Not to mention when you kissed him the other night.” He huffed out a long breath. “I’ve been raised differently than you. It’s not an excuse, but it does make it harder.” He pressed his lips together. “I figured out I was being an ass, though.”
“You do realize I only did that because I had to stop Jace from starting a fight in front of everyone. I was angry you wouldn’t talk to me, and he thought you’d done something to me.” I lowered my eyes from his. “But I’m such a jerk for what I did to the both of you. I deserve whatever Jace says to me or calls me.”
Reese tilted my face up. “No, you don’t. Things are complicated.” He brushed my hair from my eyes. “I just