Page 53 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

52

FINNLEAH

T he long dining tables were unusually empty today, but I welcomed the rare quietness of the dining area. I rested my head on my folded arms against the table. The pale green tint of my skin was a strong indication of my very prevalent nausea.

Gods, there was a reason I avoided drinking, and now like never before, I was acutely aware of it. My head throbbed and it felt way too bright for this late in the morning.

“How do you all have so much energy?” I whispered as a few of the Ten, looking somehow all refreshed and full of vigor, sat by me with their plates full of porridge, bacon, and some fruit. Though, the usually delicious smell made me gag.

“Two or three hours of sleep is plenty for a warrior, Finn.” Gia laughed as she devoured her food.

“We’d have had more if you all stopped chit chatting all the way until dawn,” Ioanna grumped, taking a seat next to me. She seemed to share my sentiment this morning.

“Though I hear your jab, and choose to ignore it, I am glad for once I’m not the only one feeling like complete shit,” I mumbled, attempting to open my eyes, wincing as the bright light blinded me.

“Oh, don’t add me to your weak stomach club. I handle my wine just fine. I might be grumpy and tired, but I am nowhere near looking like I am about to puke up my guts,” Ioanna commented, proudly diving into her food.

“Thanks for that,” I groaned, and a few of the Ten chuckled near me. Each movement of the metal spoons and sound of their slurps were extremely loud, I winced, focusing on the heavy feeling in my body.

Alcohol poisoning was only one part of the problem. Then, there was the General. And the in-the-moment-quite-amazing-but-now-with-morning-sobriety-quite-embarrassing events of last night. That, unlike wine, I wouldn’t get out of my system anytime soon.

Perhaps, he’d disregard what happened, and we wouldn’t ever have to talk about it. Though, knowing the General, he’d never let me forget. I flinched, remembering how I came on to him, of the things that I had said. I pinched the bridge of my nose, drowning in embarrassment.

Fill me up…

All of you inside of me…

I want you right now, Gideon.

Oh, fucking hell. I rubbed my temples with my palms.

I did want him, but gods, I shouldn’t have said those things. Yet, a small, pleasant shiver ran through my body as I remembered his lips on my burning skin, his thick and hardened cock against my hand, and his fingers sliding up and down my core. And it felt so good . I couldn’t deny I wanted more—so much more.

I still did, even right now.

A mess.

I was a fucking mess.

I want all of you. The weight of the General’s recklessly spoken words dug deep within me. My sober mind was flustered and unsure of what to think; where to put that knowledge amidst the scattered boxes, and broken doors, of my crumbling mind.

What was all of me, other than the scars and broken promises and the never-ending guilt that now, like a slow leak, was sinking my boat, along with me?

“Good morning, Finnleah.” The General’s upbeat voice rang in my ears, making me cringe at his loudness. I didn’t bother opening my eyes to see the Ten quickly scatter away from the table, ditching me alone with him.

Great…

“Why do you insist on being so loud today, out of all days, General?” I seethed, attempting to soothe my throbbing headache.

“Rough night?” he inquired, raising his brow in amusement at my misery.

I opened my eyes and glared at his full-of-satisfaction smirk.

“I’ve had rougher.” I gave him a snarky reply, well aware of what he was insinuating. But my eyes filled with anxious concern as his broad figure stood fully dressed in armor.

“Is that so?” He gave me a smug look.

“Out with it. Say what you want to say, General. I’m sure I’ll never stop hearing about it, so you better get it out of your system now,” I bitterly spat out, as a sour taste filled my mouth.

“Well, actually, I’ve come to say goodbye.” His smirk faltered at the words, and my eyes widened.

I was prepared to hear many things, but not that.

“Goodbye?” I asked, raising my head as my heart dropped.

“Yes, I have to depart on Destroyer business for a little while, but I couldn’t leave without seeing you first.” He let out a long breath. “Believe me, I tried,” he defeatedly confessed, moving his eyes away from me. My brows furrowed even deeper, as the flood of mixed emotions drowned me.

“General…I...” I started.

No, be an adult about this, Finnleah. I closed my eyes for a second as I corrected myself. “Gideon…” I swallowed hard. “Whatever my actions were last night, however questionable and foolish they were, it doesn’t change my earlier stance on us.”

He let out a light scoff mixed with a tense half-smile, returning his eyes back to mine, letting me see the depth of their darkness as he stared, unfaltering, profoundly into my soul.

“But it does change mine.” With that, the General marched away, leaving me speechless.