Chapter 92
~ NYSSA
I tried to find the right words, anything that would convey how I felt after that declaration, but my head was muddled.
It felt like a fucking warzone in there. The harder I tried to think, the more jumbled my thoughts became. I couldn’t fucking think.
“How old was he met you met?” I asked suddenly. “Are you sure it was after he graduated college p>
“It was two years ago p>
“It’s not fucking possible!” I screamed, rising to my feet in frustration.
I paced the length of the room, running my hands through my curls in an attempt to relax.
Despite the fact that I wasn’t with Henry anymore, the betrayal cut deep, like a knife right to my heart.
What he did with Alisa was bad enough, but finding out that he was playing me the whole time… getting with Aria.
Aria who was my friend, who had been nothing but kind to me.
A loud curse left my lips.
“You’re lying,” I mumbled under my breath. “There has to be some explanation p>
“I’m not p>
I shook my head, not wanting to believe it.
Had she known? Did she look at me and think that I was the reason that she didn’t get with the love of her life?
I’d infiltrated her love life and now, I was here with her brother. It was a miracle she hadn’t tried to kill me yet.
“You have to be because he was with me two years ago! We were… fuck. There has to be some mistake. We were together p>
He sighed, his voice soft and comforting. “I know. Aria found out about you, that was how the whole thing blew up p>
I scoffed, wiping at the angry tears that had gathered around my eyes.
It was a fucking mess and I couldn’t seem to wrap my head around all the shit that was currently unfolding before my very eyes.
They knew about me… Aria knew about me.
It explained why she was so stand-offish to me at the very beginning.
I turned to Rowan. “So you knew who I was when we met? Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you act like you didn’t know me p>
“Because I didn’t… not at first anyway p>
He stood to his feet, crossing the length of the room until he was standing directly in front of me. He didn’t touch me, but the very heat of his presence wrapped around me like a weighted blanket.
His scent surrounded me, making it hard to think of anything but him.
I took a step back, wanting some space from him, but he grabbed my arm, keeping me right in front of him.
“When I saw you outside the palace for the first time, I he trailed off with a sigh. “I don’t have the words to explain it. You were singlehandedly the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. I knew you came with Henry but I didn’t know who you were to him. All I knew was that you were my mate and I was going to keep you. But, when you started arguing in the throne room, I put the pieces together. I still didn’t care p>
“You pushed me away p>
His smile was sad. “That’s not why I did that p>
“Then p>
“My point is, I didn’t set out to deceive you. This isn’t a game for me. The only reason I didn’t say shit was because I didn’t want to hurt you. For fucks sake you’re still hung up over him about the other girl. Did you really think I was going to sit and tell you that there were more p>
“More p>
I didn’t have it in me to be upset anymore. I’d expelled all the emotional energy I possessed for Henry on this discovery.
“How many p>
“I don’t know,” he answered curtly. “And I don’t think you want to find out either. You still love him and knowing the number p>
“I don’t love him p>
Rowan snorted. “You don’t have to lie to me. You’re up in arms about what he did. It’s okay to feel betrayed and to have feelings for him. You were together for a long time p>
“You’re not listening to me. I’m not in love with Henry p>
He began to speak but I held up a hand to stop him.
“Am I pissed about what he did? Fuck yes. We were together for years, he was my first everything p>
A low rumble left Rowan’s chest at those words but I ignored him. It was imperative that I got everything out.
“I’m pissed that he’s a cheating bastard, but I’m more pissed that it’s Aria. She’s… I’d like to believe that she’s my friend and she knew this whole time and still let me into her life. I feel like an ass. What if she thinks I was rubbing it all in her face p>
“She doesn’t think that p>
“You don’t know that for sure p>
“True, but I know my sister,” he said simply. “This is a lot to handle. I think you should go to bed p>
I ran my hands down my face, an amused scoff leaving my lips. There was no way I’d be sleeping tonight, not after what I just learnt.
A part of me wanted to find Aria and profusely apologize while the other wanted to find Henry and give him a piece of my fucking mind. He played me for years… leading me on. If it wasn’t Alisa, it would’ve been someone else.
It was a humbling feeling to realize that Alisa was as much of a victim as I was in this whole thing
“Thank you for telling me the truth,” I mumbled finally. “I might need a drink or two after this but p>
“Do you really?” he asked, and when I didn’t respond, he continued. “A drink… do you want one p>
“It would be nice p>
“Come with me then p>
I raised a brow. “Where to? I’m not even dressed p>
“My room is just next door and I have an amazing liquor collection p>
The thought of being alone in his room this late sent shivers down my spine and an ache down to the apex of my thighs.
If I had any sense whatsoever, I would’ve refused and made up some excuse about wanting to sleep.
“Sure, why not p>