Page 52 of Air of Seduction
Chapter 31
Payton
Olivia’s eyes are wide when she shakes her head. “No, that can’t be.”
I let out a sigh. “That’s what I was told. That’s what true mate means, or at least how I understood it.”
“So, I don’t get a choice?”
Biting my bottom lip, I shrug. “It didn’t sound like it. But perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps one of the other women here knows.” Because I don’t want to ask Ronan.
I manage to stop myself from reacting when there’s a twinge of pain in my chest again. It’s happened several times since Ronan left, and I realized I’m not his mate. All I want is to hide in my room and nurse my broken heart, but I can’t leave Olivia alone right now. She’s more broken than I am.
She buries her head in her hands. “After a week of enduring that asshole vampire, and now this.” She sounds more angry than distressed, which I hope is a good sign.
And perhaps it’s my cue to find out what really happened during the week she was a vampire’s captive. But I need to be subtle about it. “Barry is gone. He can’t ever hurt you again. And for what it’s worth, Noah was really desperate to save you from that asshole.”
Her hands drop down to her lap, and she stares at me with anger narrowing her eyes. “In order to have me for himself. That’s not saving. That’s just…” Her lips press into a hard line.
I don’t know what to say. My first impression of Noah wasn’t great, and I’m not sure it has improved since. I won’t advocate for someone I’m not sure will be a good fit for my best friend.
Although I might be wrong. Not all first impressions are accurate with respect to how the person really is, and finding out his mate was held against her will by a vampire couldn’t have been easy for him.
“But enough about me. What happened with Ronan?” Olivia’s brows are pushed together with concern.
I swallow hard. “We had sex, and it was amazing.”
She cocks her head and frowns. “Then why do you make it sound like a bad thing? Did he say something to hurt you?”
“No.” I shake my head firmly. “He’s been nothing short of perfect, and that’s the problem.”
She shakes her head slowly. “I don’t understand.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I knead my forehead with my thumbs and index fingers. “I’m falling in love with him. Stupid after such a short time, I know, but I can’t help it. But the minute he meets his true mate, I’ll be nothing to him.”
“I can’t believe that. I saw the way he looked at you at breakfast. He’s got feelings for you too.”
I open my eyes and give her an unhappy smile. “Perhaps for now. But it won’t last.”
“Are you sure you’re not his true mate?” She studies my face.
I nod. “He would’ve told me if I am. Why would he conceal something like that? I mean he’s the one who told me what it means, even if we didn’t have time to cover the details.”
∞∞∞
Ronan
I storm up the stairs, having no patience to wait for the elevator. But my steps slow when I see Noah standing like a silent sentinel outside Payton and Olivia’s suite. His face is like a thundercloud, and he looks ready to attack anyone or anything approaching him.
I don’t stop until I’m directly in front of him. “What are you doing here? You promised to stay away.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he stares me down. “And I would have if Payton hadn’t scared my mate half to death.”
My heart speeds up, concern stiffening my spine. “What happened?”
“I don’t know, and therein lies the problem. I’m not leaving until I know what happened and can prevent it from happening again. No one has the right to scare my mate, friend or not.”
I frown. “I agree, but it must be some kind of misunderstanding. Payton would never willfully scare her friend. I’ll talk to her and find out what really happened.”