Page 105 of A Taste of Bliss

“What did you want to talk about?” I ask, my arms starting to get cold as the night air cools another degree or two. There’senough light from the streetlamps and the patio lighting they used inside the maze to see where I’m going.

“Are you sure you’re okay to be here?” he asks. He sneezes, just like the day we were partnered to give out prizes. After a moment, he continues, “I get wanting to face your trauma, but there’s no rush.”

I nod, but I don’t agree. I drove the very next day to the place where Jordan crashed the car, almost killing me. I knew if I didn’t I would never drive on that road again. It’s a Band-Aid you have to rip off.

I turn around and face him. “I need to do this now. Before they take the maze down. I want to go look at the spot where I was attacked.”

He motions for me to lead the way and I do. I’m not sure how my brain remembers it, but I know the exact path I took trying to get away from Jinx, and I know even before I turn the corner that I’m going to find my blood.

And there it is.

It’s dried, but it’s coated the hay-covered asphalt floor of the maze. I notice splatters on the walls as well.

“Fuck,” Pisces breathes out. “Do you know who attacked you?”

“My ex, Jordan. He’s a vampire.”

Pisces growls and the sound reverberates through my body. I turn and look at him, finding him staring stonily at the blood splatters.

My heartbeat starts to pick up its pace and I find I’m having a hard time taking a full breath.

I turn and break into a sprint away from the scene of my attack.

“Oh stars,” I say, coming to a stop and placing my hands on the hay wall in front of me. Pisces is behind me seconds later.

“Bliss, are you alright?” He places a gentle hand on my shoulder, slowly turning me around. I cave and bury my face into his chest. He strokes my back soothingly as tears streak down my face. “I’m so sorry, Bliss. God, I’m so sorry.”

Pisces pulls me into him even tighter and I let him scoop me up as he carries me to one of the little benches made out of hay. I curl into him, letting my nose rest against his collarbone.

“I shouldn’t have brought you anywhere near here. Fuck, I keep making everything worse,” he whispers hoarsely, but I don’t think he meant to say it out loud.

I clutch his shirt and finally pull my head up. We meet each other’s gazes, and for some reason the sight of his runeless eyes makes me sob even harder.

I’m only here at the festival because I’m trying to get a mate. I was only attacked because my mate bond is broken.

That’s not entirely true, a voice in my head reminds me. Amelia asked me to be here. Even if it weren’t for the wraith’s deal, wouldn’t I have eventually caved and come with my sister to support her?

I got attacked because Jordan attacked me.

It was on him and nothing else.

I hastily wipe at my cheeks, trying to dry them, and sniff to clear my nose.

I am not going to keep crying over anything related to Jordan. I’ve wasted enough tears on him.

I am done crying.

The only tears I want to see now are Wrath’s. I’m going to get my mate and become a water nymph.

I straighten up in Pisces’ hold. “I’m okay now. Sorry for running and crying all over you.”

He smiles softly at me, dipping his head. “It’s fine. Least I could do.”

He lets me get up and I turn and face him, wiping again at the stray tears that have leaked down my face. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I wanted to apologize—” He’s cut off mid-sentence by a scream that feels like it reaches into my soul and slashes it to ribbons. Sheer panic courses through me at the fear in that scream.

“Stay here,” Pisces says, starting to take a step, but then he stops. “Never mind, I’m not leaving you alone.” He firmly grips my hand in his and we run towards where we thought we heard the scream.