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The acrid scent of Bailey’s fury lingers long after she’s left my office. Even with my balcony doors open, there’s no missing how the ripe raspberries that sweeten her scent are sharper. Harsher. Nothing like it was on the first day we met.

The fault of her anger falls on me, yet again. There are so many secrets I’ve kept from her that she’s just now finding out, and one big one that still needs to come to light. But dammit. I thought I was doing the right thing by hiding it from her. Unfortunately, I’m not so sure that’s the case anymore.

And now with the way she despises me, there’s no doubt I’m currently sharing the doghouse with Hudson.

I can’t stand it any longer; I need to get out of here. Even if it’s only for a few minutes. Anything to run away from my own misdeeds.

Jasper: Meet me at The Tower.

After firing off the text, I stride toward my open balcony and spread my wings, shooting off into the clear blue sky. Flying is my escape. The one way to clear my mind. But it hasn’t worked much since Bailey’s first day at the academy. Without her in my arms, flying now feels bleak in comparison.

Peeking high above the clouds, the tallest building in Faridity shines like a beacon for lost souls. Or those of us with wings. It’s the only way to reach the very top since stairs are non-existent after the twentieth floor.

At the highest point rests the exclusive bar that’s only open to those with major influence and wings in our world. Most supernaturals residing here aren’t even aware of its existence.

Even a select few councilmen don’t know it’s there.

The ground trembles as I land, alerting the three patrons and barkeep that I’ve arrived. Wisely, they keep to themselves, not daring to say a word or even glance in my direction. It’s just another thing I enjoy about this place. People mind their own business.

Floor-to-ceiling windows fully encompass the space, giving a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view, which leads onto a large wrap-around balcony. Also known as the flight deck. Very ironic of a name and the leading joke since The Tower opened. Tables are dotted intermittently throughout the room, but right smack dab in the middle is the large circular bar. Glasses glimmer in the morning sun shining through the open windows, and various bottles of liquor light up like an eternal flame is burning brilliantly inside of them.

Bailey would love this place, I think to myself. Or not. She could hate it as much as she hates me.

My strides are heavy with conflict as I head to the private booth reserved only for me. Due to my status and lineage, I’m afforded things that most others aren’t. I’ve barely sat down and ordered a drink when my best friend arrives.

“Jasper.”

“Cassian, how was your flight?” The angel ruffles his white, feathery wings before taking the seat opposite of me. The barkeep hustles over with my drink and quickly takes Cassian’s order before disappearing back behind the bar.

My best friend takes a moment to release his blond hair from the tie holding it back and then shifts in the booth, leaning back with an aggrieved sigh. “The flight was fine, but it’s all the bullshit before it. Your text couldn’t have come at a better time.”

A slow sip of the whiskey in front of me leaves a burning trail down my throat. “Is Dirk still trying to throw his weight around?”

“He is the head councilman, after all.” Cassian shakes his head. “That man is going to throw around whatever he can to get what he wants. And there’s not a damn thing we can do about it while he continues to hold his position.” He grunts in displeasure and changes topics. “So how is Miss Foss holding up?” My fingers tighten around my glass at the sound of her name. “Jasper?”

“She hates me,” I mutter, squeezing my eyes shut as the glass finally shatters in my hand. “My own mate hates me.” A self-deprecating chuckle slips through my parted lips. “I wanted to give her time to get used to her new life, like you suggested I do before I tell her what she is to me. And everything has fucking snowballed from there. Now all there is is hostility every time she looks at me.”

Cassian leans forward, gripping my shoulder. “You did what you thought was right. What we thought was right. Who the hell knew she was going to be exposed the night of the gala?” He releases me and sits back, an air of contemplation surrounding him. “You know what you need? Some kind of grand gesture so she’ll stop seeing you as the bad guy.”

I snort at his ridiculousness. What kind of grand gesture will change her mind in regard to everything I’ve lied to her about? Hell, I already sleep perched outside her windows every night, guarding her from the shadows so she can rest peacefully. But that’s more in the lines of stalker territory than anything else.

“I’m serious, Jasper. Listen?—”

I tune out my best friend, ignoring his words. I listened to him when I first met Bailey and realized she was my mate. The moment she walked out of my office, I called him in a hurry and brought my worries to him. And I told him everything. Who she was. What she was. The fear I had over her being discovered. Everything.

And now, I’m left with a broken heart because my mate looks at me with such hatred. The same hatred she reserved only for Hudson—the dumbass. That motherfucker is a whole other story. He’s dead lucky he even kept his job after what he did to her. The only reason he did was because he swore he’d never do another thing to hurt her. Remorse had shone so brightly in his eyes that I just couldn’t keep him from his mate—our mate.

But I put the fear of our gods in his eyes after Bailey disappeared. I threatened him with his job. Relayed that I’d give Bailey the option to reject him if she chose to. She might not even know that it’s an option since I’m sure she would have done it already. Then I heard about the confrontation between Hudson and Luka. Not that it was really a confrontation. More like a well-deserved ass beating.

“You know, Jasper,” the sound of my name pulls me from my thoughts, “you could always give up your council position.” I look at him aghast. “No, no, hear me out.” He raises his hands placatingly. “That’s what she’s ultimately upset about, right? That you’re on the council and didn’t say anything when Dirk the dick was trying to have her killed?”

I shake my head, not even entertaining the thought of giving up my position. “You know my seat on the council is something that’s been passed down for generations. My father, my grandfather. The one thing they wanted was for me to take my seat on the council. And now that I’m here, it’s not something I’m willing to give up.” Something flashes in his blue eyes, there and gone before I can question it. “Especially since Bailey’s life now hangs in the balance.”

“You’re right,” he murmurs. “Keeping her alive is what’s important. I just… Jasper, I really hope your position on the council isn’t what causes your mate to reject you. You’ve been looking for her for centuries, and now she’s here.”

She is here, and now I’ve got to get my shit together and figure out how to get her to forgive me. If she doesn’t, I’ll have to live with the regret that I didn’t stand up for her when I should have for the rest of my life. Because it should have been me who interjected during the gala, not my best friend. And I know he did it for my benefit. He didn’t want to see me lose my mate.

But it doesn’t matter.

I lost her anyway.