Blade

Chapter 61: Love denied

Sienna

I press a hand against my chest, trying to ease the sharp ache spreading through me as I stare at the man who just shattered my heart.

It’s almost ironic, isn’t it?

I never imagined I’d use that word, let alone feel it. For years, I built walls around myself, solid and unbreakable, to keep out anything that could make me weak or vulnerable. I convinced myself that love was nothing more than a trap; a one-way path to heartbreak. It tears you apart piece by piece, and somehow, it still manages to shape you into something unrecognizable when it’s done.

Some might call me foolish for letting my guard slip and allowing him past the walls I built around my heart.

But I’m only human.

I never wanted to feel these wild emotions that burn through me every time our gazes lock. I never wanted to be this defenseless.

God knows I tried not to fall for him. Hell, even the devil knows that too.

But the truth is, I can’t control the choices my heart makes. It beats with a will of its own, refusing to listen to reason.

"I know that's not what you wanted to hear, Sienna, but... I can't love you." He repeats, his tone sharper this time, his expression cold.

I rise from the bed, each step toward him feeling like walking on shattered glass. My chest tightens as I fight back the tears burning at the corners of my eyes. "Why can't you?"

He glances away, a muscle in his jaw twitching. "Not everything has an answer."

I shake my head as a tear slips down my cheek. "I refuse to believe that. I just opened up to you, told you something I haven’t told anyone in years, and all you can say is you can’t love me—without even giving me a reason why? That sounds... foolish, if you ask me."

His head snaps toward me, a dark glint burning in his eyes as another tear slips down my cheek. “Well, I don’t owe you an explanation, do I?” he says, turning his back to me. “Love is a line I refuse to cross. Besides, you shouldn’t develop feelings for me when you know it’ll only end in pain. I’m a complicated man, Sienna."

My lungs tighten painfully. His back turned to me only deepens the pain bleeding through my veins. "Don’t you think it’s too late for that? I’m already hurt. There’s nothing left to destroy; my heart’s already bruised and broken. You can’t tell me who to love. Nothing in this world will change the way I feel about you." My voice quivers with every word that leaves my lips.

He turns around to face me, breathing hard, his eyes red with a pain that makes my throat tighten. “I can’t give you what you want, Sienna. You need to stop loving me because it’ll only make you hurt more.”

I let out a bitter scoff, staring at him like I’m seeing a stranger instead of the same Blade I’ve always known. “That’s unfortunate because my feelings don’t have an off switch. I can’t just stop them even if I wanted to.”

“Then make it,” he suddenly shouts. I freeze, stunned, as he exhales heavily and turns away, walking toward the large window in silence.

I swallow the ache in my throat and step toward him quietly. “Look, I know you’re scared. I am too. But you can’t just give up on love when you haven’t even allowed yourself to feel it. We’re both broken, in ways only we can understand, but maybe together we can—”

“We can what?” he interrupts sharply, turning to me with a frown. “Stop being delusional, Sienna, and accept the fucking fact that love is nothing more than a figment of our imagination. I’m not scared of anything.”