Page 112 of Rejected By the Shifter King

Grr.

The way his golden eyes are gleaming at me right now just makes me want to kick him even more.

I take it back. I don’t care if I was rude earlier. If anything, I wish I was even...um...ruder!

“How remarkably mature of you.”

Unlike Brandy, right?

“Since I keep disappointing you, why are you even wasting time with me? Why not just go to Brandy and live happily ever after?”

I want to take the words back as soon as I say them.

Argh!

Because I’ve just realized I don’t have the courage to hear what his answer is.

But since the past can’t be undone—

“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” I whisper to Anastasia.

The other girl quickly nods even as her fascinated gaze darts between me and that...that man whose name I don’t even want to think of.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I don’t answer, just wanting to get away as fast as I can.

“Is that what you really want me to do? Live happily ever after with another woman?”

No, of course not!

I wish I could simply yell the words out, but I can’t...because I know that’s only going to make me look even more pathetic.

Let’s say he wasn’t lying earlier, and I wasn’t really a third wheel, and Brandy’s visit to his place was nothing romantic (ha!).

Even if that were so—

I realize now it doesn’t change things.

All I have to do is look around, and...ugh.

Surrounded as we are by the most powerful and wealthiest members ofL’Alliancegather for all sorts of reasons—

H’s still making waves like always, with how he’s got so many women ogling his powerful form like they want a piece of him...andthat’swhy I know I was an idiot to even think being with him is worth considering.

Hexius is Hexius while I’m just me. Even if he says I’m supposed to be his most compatible mate, it still doesn’t mean—

“Is this how you tend to solve your problems? By running away?”

Nope, nope, nope.

I’m so not letting him distract me into slowing down.L’Alliancerules may force him to match my human pace in public areas, but all it takes is one mistake, and I know he’ll catch up to me.

“All you have to say is yes or no.”

Focus, Sam! Keep your head in the game.

The corridor stretches ahead, and the attendants who greeted me earlier are bowing their heads as we pass them by, the curiosity in their gaze unmistakable.