“Have fun with who?” I ask, failing entirely at acting unconcerned. “Other girls?”
“It shouldn’t bother you if I did,” he says with a noncommittal wave of his hand. “Considering what you’re doing to Sage and me.”
I bite my lower lip. He’s right. There’s a human expression for this, something about a pot and a kettle. I can’t expect them to wait around forever for me to make up my mind, but to my knowledge, neither of them is involved with other girls. I can’t expect them to wait. I’ve known this, but still, it hurts to realize that Damon might be doing stuff with a girl or girls while I’m waiting.
The feeling of hurt crushes me, and I blink back tears. There’s nothing for me to say. I’ve brought this on myself, and it’s all because I’m too damn selfish for my own good. I love them both, and I can’t have them both. In the end, I really will end up all alone.
He’s so very right. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. Is this how Sage feels? How Damon feels? No wonder they hate each other.
“I…” I choke over the word and can’t get any more out.
No. No, I won’t be a wimp.
“I think you know I care about you deeply,” I say haltingly. “I care about Sage too. I never wanted to hurt you, and… and… if you want to—”
“You know what I want, but I won’t wait.”
With that, Damon flies off.
Chapter 13
I’m a mess. Anger. Hurt. Frustrated. Sad. Guilty.
So many emotions wrestle within me, but I let anger simmer and rise to the surface. Zoth has been a thorn in my side since that double date or whatever you want to call it, and I’m not about to let him potentially hurt Bay.
The first time I met him, Bay brought me to Zoth’s house. Apparently, he has two because this one isn’t in the dominion of the demons. It’s close to the border between the fairies and the demons, but it’s actually on our land. In a way, that thought is even more unsettling than I ever felt in Brandon’s presence.
Who knows if Zoth will even be there right now, but at least Bay’s in class right now. Shoving aside the realization that I should be in class too, I dash away, leaving the campus behind. My thoughts plague me all along the way, but focusing on my fights with Sage and Damon won't change what happened, won't erase the hurt caused by words spoken. Honestly, I don't even understand why they like me so much. I don't deserve either of them.
But I’m not going to worry about that right now. My focus has to be on Bay right now, which means having a talk with Zoth. There’s no reason to play games or beat around the bush. No need to sneak around and follow him to try to discern his intentions. A straightforward conversation is the way to go.
Of course, Zoth's being a demon means he can lie, and I, being a fairy, can't, but that doesn't mean I won't resort to using magic. Maybe telepathy. Or even the magic of music if I must. If I wanted to just spy, I could try to use astral projection that I learned and mastered last year, but demons and angels tend to be able to pick up on souls outside of the body more easily than fairies can.
It takes me about an hour to reach his place. It's a house comprised of black stones that actually looks beautiful instead of frightening, given its occupant. I wince inwardly as I realize I am more than a little prejudiced against demons. I do accept Damon with everything I have, but other demons, I don't. I just assume they're evil, and that's not right.
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe I'm seeing things. Bay's made poor decisions in the past, but that doesn't mean that she automatically made a bad decision by choosing to be with Zoth. He is a demon, after all, so maybe it's not easy for them to experience and show love. It's entirely possible that he's showing love the only way he knows how, and I'm holding him to a standard he can't ever reach.
Maybe I am one hundred percent in the wrong here.
And if I am, I’ll apologize to everyone.
But only if I am wrong.
If I’m right…
I can’t be worried about right or wrong at the moment. All I can do is react, and right now, everything inside me is telling me that I have to confront Zoth.
Confronting a demon. Should be a piece of honey cake. After all, I’ve already confronted a thieving arsonist and a murderer. How hard can it be to face a demon?
Still, I can't deny being nervous as I slow my approach toward the door. I knock and wait and wait and—
The door opens. Zoth eyes me.
“Hi, Zoth. Do you mind if I come in?”
“As a matter of fact, I do mind.” He crosses his arms and juts his chin toward me. “What do you want?”
“I…”
“Why are you here, Rosemary?”
No cringe-worthy jokes today.
I force a smile even though it has to look pained. “I’m here to talk to you.”
“About?”
“Well, I was thinking. You’re dating my sister and have been for some time now, and I—”
“You what? Want to get to know me? Is that it? Why now?” His eyes narrow to dark slits. “What do you really want?”
“I do want to get to know you,” I protest.
“And?” he prompts.
“And I want to make sure you have my sister’s best interests at heart.” I say this in a rush.
“What makes you think I don’t?” he asks.
“I would be asking any guy dating my sister about his intentions,” I say.
“Is that so? Hmm. You talk to the guy she was with before she started to date me?”
I drop my gaze to his feet. He’s wearing
