Chapter 2

2

A FORGOTTEN LESSON FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL:

Brightly colored creatures are typically poisonous. Stay away from those.

A jarring knock sounded and Thessa shot out of bed. “Who’s there?”

“Thessa, open the door.”

Rolling her eyes at the sound of that voice, she asked, “Must I?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving the capital?”

Half-awake, she dragged her feet to the door. “Why are you here?”

“So that’s it then?”

She opened the door, waving Kellan inside. “Why are you doing this in the hallway?”

He blew past her, running fingers through his thick, golden hair.

She closed the door, diverting her attention to the handle. His crystal-blue eyes had trapped hers too many times before. They were like the surface of the sea, flecked with light; whereas hers were dark blue, like the deepest part—devoid of any.

“Well?” He had the nerve to question her.

Thessa took a breath before facing him. “I’m not doing this.”

“Then why open the door?” he asked, tilting his head. “You really weren’t going to say goodbye?”

She narrowed her gaze. “What difference does it make?”

“You could’ve told me you were leaving Gravenport. I thought?—”

“You thought what?” He ended their relationship two months ago, shortly after his shift into an Elemental. “Shouldn’t you be seeing to Asteria?” She arched her brow as high as she could manage it. “Or is it Lilith now?”

He was entering the Elemental Training Program soon where plenty of other females were ready and waiting for his attention.

“Thessa.” Her name drifted too easily off of his lips. “Despite your beliefs, I do care about you.”

Lies.

“There’s no reason for you to be here,” she reminded him.

He stepped closer and said, “Stop avoiding me.” The noxious smell of cedar and smoke rolled along with him.

“You’re infuriating.” With her back flush against the door, she swallowed whatever was building in her throat.

Kellan raked his gaze down to her chest. “You’re infuriating, too.”

“Please leave.”

He grinned, flicking his eyes to hers. “Without a proper farewell?”

Thessa was going to snap. “Now.”

A small laugh escaped his lips; the sound was so arrogant .

Gripping the handle—trying not to rip it off—she spoke through her teeth. “If you ever cared about me, you’ll just go .”

He remained still. The fire inside his unflinching gaze threatened to smolder her where she stood. Kellan had a way of making every second feel like an eternity.

She opened the door. “Goodbye.”

Brushing the pad of his thumb along her lips, he whispered, “That’s it?”

She dropped her chin in an effort not to bite off his digit.

He clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Then may I ask why you’re still in your sleeping tunic? It’s hardly covering your breasts, and you know how much I love them.”

Thessa barked up at him, “You’re unbearable.”

He shook his head. “Fine. I’ll see you at the ceremony. Which you should consider getting dressed for.”

“What time is it?”

“A quarter to ten.”

Disbelief tumbled through her. She'd overslept. “What? I need to get ready.” She shooed him out.

He placed a flat palm on her door. “You can at least tell me where you’re going.”

Ignoring the throb inside her chest, she told him about the work-and-board program in Mabelton. Why she gave Kellan anything—why she’d given him everything —she wasn’t sure. She’d been as foolish as they come.

As he went to leave, she blurted, “Wait.”

He turned, arching a brow as if his prayers were about to be answered.

“Could you take my boxes to the Administration Office on your way out? There’s a space for donations.” Package delivery was the least he could do for the perpetual reminder that her heart belonged nowhere. After stuffing all her pertinent belongings into a single duffle bag last night, she’d divided the rest between two boxes, for some other orphan.

In answer, Kellan returned, stacking and scooping up her boxes. He made it look easy, but he was also the size of her door frame.

“Thank you … for taking them.” She wanted to be clear that it was the only thing she was thankful for.

“Of course. I’ll see you soon.”

Thessa scrunched her face and closed the door, recounting every horrid detail about the day she’d met him. He’d transferred during her second year—straight from the underworld as far as she was concerned. Between whispering sweet nothings in her ear, his blazing eyes, and puckered lips, he’d been too lustrous to dismiss.

Little had she known he only snared her before unleashing his poison. It was the same toxin he’d used on many females, like the several he’d bedded during their so-called relationship. But, desperate for love, or something like it, she’d always forgiven him.

It’d been two years of torture bound by lust and lies.

Shaking off Kellan’s captivation for the last time, she rushed to leave.