Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 31800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
“It’s important.”
His tone has sharpened, almost as if he’s irritated that I’m not bending backward to accommodate him. Was he really just confident before...or had it been conceit all along, but I was just too infatuated to notice?
“We need to talk about your engagement.”
“Why?” I hate how my voice has started to shake, but I can’t help it.
“What do you mean why?”
“Just that.” Because I’m suddenly tired of pretending. Just tired of ignoring the elephant in the room, which has everything to do with my feelings, not his.
“Why are you treating me like I’m the enemy?”
The confrontational edge of his voice makes me flinch, and I start to tell him to just forget it...but catch myself in time.
“I’m sorry if that’s how I’m coming across, but it’s not that, I promise.”
It’s my first time to stand up to him. Of sorts. And I wonder if it’s because of the Lykan Qahiri Syndrome at work again.
“I just want to know what’s there to talk about...since it’s my engagement, not yours.”
A part of me is already expecting him to say something nasty or hang up. But instead, all I hear is silence, and I find myself holding my breath...while hoping and praying that maybe, just maybe, this is finally it.
Please, oh please.
I’m not sure what I’m begging God for.
I just know I need Him right now.
“Because I’m your friend!”
And there it was.
Friend.
He’s always used that word, and I used to tell myself it’s because he’s just the type to be cautious. To really think things through before making a move. But now?
“A friend, huh?”
My voice cracks at the end, and I hear Vaughn swear.
“I’m sorry,” I hear myself say. “I have to go.”
“Wait, Scar—”
I don’t let him finish. I can’t. For the first time in my life, I hang up on Vaughn...because if I let this call continue just one second longer, I have this terrifying feeling I’ll start crying and never stop.
This is Your answer, God.
Isn’t it?
Vaughn is not for me, and while I know I can always trust that God has something better in store...why has no one ever warned me that His plans could sometimes break your heart?
I want to cry and laugh at the same time. I’ve spent years—literally years—hoping Vaughn would see me as more than a friend. Building my entire future around the possibility of us together. And now...
You’re just a friend to him, Scar.
Always was, always would be, and what’s even worse is how he’s always known this, too.
I can’t believe I was so blind, God.
I’ve always known Vaughn isn’t perfect. But it’s only now that I realized how he perfectly selfish he had been all these years, with how he’s enjoyed letting me pine after him...in full view of the entire town.
Was that all I was to him, God?
An ego trip?
A future with Vaughn was all I’ve ever dreamt of. It was like the sun my whole life revolved around. But now that I no longer have that...
I feel lost.
Adrift.
But at the same time, I feel...
I straighten my shoulders as I take one last look at my reflection. Smooth down my dress before stepping out of the ladies.
Oh.
The word finally comes to me the moment I see Lykan patiently waiting for me in the hallway, his broad shoulders leaning against the wall with casual grace that still manages to look regal.
Free, I think dizzily. My Vaughn-centric days may have come to an end, but it doesn’t have to mean my life is over—
Dark eyes narrow at me, and my heart skips a beat at the scorching intensity of his gaze.
Because of him.
“You took your time.”
“I’m sorry.” Lying isn’t ever an option, but I don’t it’s any smart either if I were to tell a royal sheikh from a powerful desert kingdom that I was preoccupied by another man.
He offers his arm, and it feels so terrifyingly natural to just curve my arm around his. If I don’t take extra care not to lower my guard, he might have me completely forgetting that this engagement of ours is pure insanity.
All eyes are on us when we return to the ballroom, but instead of leading us back to our table—
Huh?
“Please don’t tell me—”
“Then I won’t.”
Oh no.
I try digging my heels in, but this only has the sheikh’s lips curving in a smirk, and I look at him in horror.
“I don’t dance.”
“You do now.”
I don’t even have time to draw another breath, with the sheikh already swinging me into his arms, and oh, of course...
Of course the orchestra starts playing the moment we step into the dance floor.
Seriously?
Lykan's lips twitch when he sees the look on my face.
"Impressed?"
"Nope." Yes.
The sheikh only laughs, and I wish I could laugh, too, just to show him he's not getting under my skin.
But...how can I, with him drawing me even closer to his big, hard body while more and more people come to watch us like we're tonight's main performance?