The Stains of the Crown

Chapter Forty Three

Trigger warnings: trauma response related to SA, thoughts of self medicating with alcohol.

Finley sighs, giving me a look of longing that tells me she wants to finish this just as much as I do. I almost want to cry when I realize we can't. It's not because I didn't get to finish so much as it is that Vix was the one interrupting. I shouldn't dread spending time with her. But Jovi and Finley had created a bubble of happiness, of safety, of love, and Vix would pop it. I wasn't ready.

"Get dressed, Love," Finley says softly. "We can finish this after they leave." I sigh, rubbing my face before taking the pile of clothes from her. Jovi waits until I'm dressed to open the door. Vix pushes her way in, looking between us with something close to a glare. Disappointment floods my body at the realization she wants to start an argument of some kind.

"Do you know what time it is?" Vix asks, crossing her arms over her chest. Something in her energy is so negative that even I can feel it, but I can't quite tell what it is. "It's 3:30," she says when no one replies. "We've been downstairs waiting for half an hour, and I'm not going to pretend I don't know you guys were fucking." She practically growls it, something about it triggering my anger. "You guys have all fucking day to do whatever the hell you want. I only get a few hours with you, and you're using it to do something you could've done at any other point today!"

"Except we couldn't," I say, "because thanks to you, they've been too afraid to touch me in weeks!"

"Oh, no. You do not get to blame that on me. You should've told all of us from the beginning."

"Like you should've told us that that's why you left?" I shoot back. Vix steps towards me, wearing a look of fury that I've never seen from her before.

"I wouldn't have had to leave if you would've let us kill him when we rescued you! You think if I had known what he did that he would've spent another second on this earth?!"

"You know now, and he's still alive," I point out.

"Because I have two mates who both want him alive! It's fucking ridiculous! But you can't blame me for the reactions your mates have had to the truth! They should've known long before now." She's right. I know she's right, but the timing of their reactions is her fault.

"Yeah, maybe I should've, but what happened today isn't something we've been able to do since you came back, and that's your fault!" I go to walk past her, but she grabs my arm roughly, holding me in place.

"Vix, let go," I grit out, panic welling up when she only holds my arm tighter. I fight to pull away, but she won't let me.

"Would you just listen?!" she screams.

"Vix, you're scaring her. Let her go," Jovi growls, clearly ready to throw herself between us. Vix looks almost hurt, but finally lets go.

"I can't believe you think I'd hurt you," she mutters.

"Because I've seen what you're capable of. Maybe you wouldn't do that to me, but I've seen it." I go to walk past her again, but she steps in my way.

"Please, just listen to me!" she snaps. "Stop being so fucking afraid of everything! You don't get to hold Damia against me, because I never would've been there if not for you and Jovi's incessant need to protect Vita-"

"Vita's our friend-"

"And I'm your mate! You're willing to die for her, but you're not even willing to listen to me! I don't know if you're suicidal or just holding a fucking grudge, but I'm so sick of it! I'm sick of watching you go to the ends of the earth for everyone but me!"