A Love From A Different World

Chapter 64

Lounging on her bed as if he owned it, Rhysand could see her happy expression falter when she saw him. Celeana took one look at the hands crossed behind his head, the long legs draped over the edge of the mattress, and grounded her teeth. He tried not to feel hurt.

"What do you want?" She said, and there was an undeniable bite in her words.

"Flirting and giggling with Tarquin did you no good, I take it?" Rhys leashed his jealousy.

She chucked a box onto the bed beside him. "You tell me."

His own smile faltered as he sat up, flipping open the lid. "This isn't the Book."

"No, but it's a beautiful gift."

"You want me to buy you jewelry, Celeana, then say the word. Though given your wardrobe, I thought you were aware that it was all bought for you."

"Tarquin is a good male—a good High Lord. It's a shame that you're going to make an enemy out of him."

He felt gutted when she uttered those words. It took effort not to clench his jaw. Rhys snapped shut the lid. "So he plies you with jewels and pours honey in your ear, and now you feel bad?"

"He wants your alliance and friendship desperately."

He knew without looking that his eyes darkened. "My friendship or yours?"

"Why can't it be both?"

"I think he is more interested in screwing you," Every word he spoke felt like poison.

She slid her eyes to him. "And? Is that a problem for you?"

"Did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Did you screw him?"

"For the diamonds? For information? For pleasure?"

"For any of the above." The words were barely able to get through from his clenched teeth.

Celeana walked over to the mirror hanging on the wall, admiring herself and barely paying him any mind. "I believe that is none of your business," She turned her head, eyes so bright, "But I will say that his lips are unexplainably soft."

His entire stomach fell. Rhysand hated that he could be destroyed simply by a few words from this woman. It was infuriating as much as it was painful. "I'm glad you enjoyed your time with him." He did not mean a single word he had just said.

"As much as you probably did with Cresseida."

Oh. Oh. Did she really mean what he thought she meant? Because if she did...wouldn't that be a confession that she had been jealous, just as he had been? Rhysand did not dare hope. Nonetheless, he said the following, "I didn't take her to bed last night. She wanted to, but I didn't so much as kiss her. I took her out for a drink in the city, let her talk about her life, her pressures, and brought her back to her room, and went no farther than the door. I waited for you at breakfast, but you slept in. Or avoided me, apparently. And I tried to catch your eye this afternoon, but you were so good at shutting me out completely."

Celeana took a moment, maybe processing what he had just said. Maybe understanding the meaning behind the words. "I wasn't avoiding you," The corner of his lips threatened to rise- "I was simply too preoccupied with looking at Tarquin. I mean have you seen the male? He makes me weak. Almost as much as Azriel."

The mention of his brother was the final nail in the coffin.

"You flirt with my brother yet fuck another male-" As the words exited his mouth he knew he shouldn't have said them. He regretted them before he even finished his sentence. Celeana whipped her head towards him, fire in her eyes.

Ever so quietly she asked him, "Am I Azriel's wife? Am I yours?" Before he could answer she continued. "I have no obligation to anyone and sure as hell do not have to justify myself to the likes of you."

Rhysand had gone too far. He was horrible, he knew. He was selfish, arrogant and cruel, and jealous. He had no right to her, no claim. And she was right, she did not need to justify anything to anyone. Mother, he was despicable and he did not deserve her.

"Get out."

Rhysand obliged without another word.