better, she’d run.”
He was on edge now.
“Do you think you were the only one that lost out? There were nights I refused to sleep for fear of dreaming of you.” He ran his hands through his hair. He was clearly aggravated because I touched a nerve, but I didn’t care. Nothing would make up for all the sleepless nights and days I went without eating. “I know I hurt you and I would gladly cut my right arm off if that would make you happy or make things right.”
“Well, it’s all in the past. Why you even came back here is irrelevant; I don’t need you. I have people who are here and who stuck with me.”
“You can’t be serious! Shay is human and will be killed if she gets involved and Viktor is just waiting for the right time to convert you so that the prophecy can play out. You know that’s not you and if Dru was here today, she would say the same.”
Oh, he did it now. The nerve that had been teetering on the verge of unleashing just burst. With everything I had, I sent out a force that slammed Declan against the wall with enough power to cause pieces of plaster to fall to the ground. He was paralyzed against my hold on him and I walked straight up to him. I’m sure my eyes reflected every emotion I was feeling then, but the look on his face said he knew I wouldn’t hurt him. I stood face-to-face with him and bent towards his ear.
“You have no right to speak about her like that.” I tightened a force around his neck as if a rope was there. He didn’t fight it and took it as I gave it. “She was the very first person to love me and care for me. She was the only one who stuck around.” He gasped a little for air. “If you ever mention her to me again, I will choke the life out of you for however long it takes your angel ass to give out. This is my final warning, Declan. Leave before I really hurt you.” I released him and he fell to the ground on all fours, trying to catch his breath. I turned my back to him. “Go feed your girlfriend,” I said, and a sent the food flying at him.
“I’m sorry for what I did to you, but you have to understand I moved on and you should too. You won’t ever see me again. I’m with Gabby and she’s the same as me. So, you see, I don’t have to hide who I am with her.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “So everything was just an act? Wow, you really need an award for this.” Instantly—poof—he was gone.
I went back to painting and made myself forget about being hungry and hurt. I pushed everything so far away. At some point I must have given in and passed out. Still covered in paint, how I made it to the bed was beyond me.
Chapter 15
The rest of the week seemed to run together. I didn’t leave my place and I still refused to answer the phone. On the upside, I finished the painting and I couldn’t stop staring at it. I wasn’t eating and I wasn’t sleeping; I was becoming delirious. I’d hear knocks on the door, but I wasn’t keeping up with who it was. I didn’t want to have any visitors, more less talk to anyone on the phone. I knew Shay came by several times with Mindy and she is probably scared to come alone. I couldn’t blame her. Mindy came by to remind me it was Thursday and she wanted me to meet her and Shay at one of the new boutiques that opened. Viktor came by twice. Twice. Yep, he really cared. Why did I care anyway? I was so better off. I needed no one.
Lying on the couch, I drifted off. I dreamt of nothing much, as usual. Just a lot faces popping in and out of view. It was like I was driving down the road, passing people by, but it was the people that came in and out my life. What was I doing? Was I giving up, or rather giving in? I wasn’t sure anymore. I felt like everything would be better if I wasn’t here at all. So, needless to say, I was really feeling sorry for myself.
There was someone at my door again and I