She nodded, tears running down her face.

My body trembled. My vision blurred a little.

Everest sighed like these words were hurting him. “So, keep yourself out of harm’s way so I don’t have to die for you. Understood?”

She nodded, her bottom lip trembling.

“Say it. Out loud,” he growled.

My heart skipped beats. That was my line. That was what he always said to me. I’d thought it was our thing, yet there he was saying it to her. He was holding on to a woman that wasn’t his soulmate saying things to her he should have been saying to me.

That bubble of happiness was too happy. I’d known it and yet the popping of the bubble still took my breath away.

Saber licked her lips and sniffled. “I will keep myself out of danger so you don’t have to die for me.”

Then to my absolute horror, he kissed her forehead.

The back door flew open, and Albert dashed into the yard with the other boys. Braison laughed from the doorway. “Oh! Hey, guys!”

I was on my feet and running through the back door faster than I’d ever moved in my life. I didn’t want to hear any more of this. I would sit in my room and wait for my body to reclaim itself—-rainbow mist flashed in my face. I gasped. Tegan. And then I was in my bed and under the blanket with his cinnamon scent wrapped all around me . . . except now I felt like I was choking on it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

FRANKIE

My bedroom door opened. I covered my mouth and nose with my hand, letting the sleeve of my sweatshirt drown out the sounds of me crying. There were only two people who would enter my room without knocking. Mei-Ling and Everest. I wasn’t sure which one I hoped it was. Part of me was not ready to talk about what I just witnessed. I wanted to cry and be angry. Yet that little voice in my head reminded me I wasn’t a heroine in one of those rom-coms that eavesdropped a conversation and never gave the guy a chance to explain himself.

When I felt his aura slide over the blankets, I got my answer.

I wanted it to be him. I needed to know what the hell I just witnessed to know just how much crying was warranted.

The bed dipped beside me as he sat. “Francelina?” he whispered.

I sniffled and squeezed my eyes shut.

“Are you . . .” The blanket was gently pulled away, revealing me lying in a fetal position with tears running down my cheeks. His eyes widened. “You are crying. Why?”

I shook my head and rolled onto my back, needing a second without his face in my line of view to rein back in my emotions so I could communicate.

“Whatever it is, please tell me,” he said softly.