Page 131 of Rejected By the Shifter King

Chapter Thirteen

HEXIUS WAITED FOR HERto speak. To defend herself. To show some sign of the manipulation he was certain existed.

But all she did was stare at him like he’d destroyed her world.

And for one second—just one—he wanted to take it back. Wanted to cross the room and pull her into his arms and tell her it was fear speaking, pride speaking, anything but truth.

Then he remembered.

She’d heard everything. Every desperate thought. Every moment he’d been weak. And she’d said nothing.

Damn her.

His jaw clenched. “Did you really think a woman like you is a match for someone like me?”

She might have had the advantage of reading his mind, but he had been fighting and winning wars for years.

Samira slowly shook her head. “I...I...”

“Whatever you think you know about me—”

“I don’t—I don’t understand—” Her voice had started to wobble, and so he had to remind himself that this was all an act.

“I’ve had enough of you.”

The words were meant to destroy her.

And so it did.

He saw it in the way she stumbled back.

Saw it in the way the light in her eyes died.

This was exactly what he wanted.

So why, dammit?

Why did he suddenly feel like he had made the worst mistake in his life?

“I’m s-sorry.” Her words came out stilted.

“Do you really think I’d believe that,” he gritted out, “considering how long you’ve been reading my thoughts?”