Page 37 of The Vampire Curse

The harshness is almost like a slap to the face. He’s never been aggressive like this before. My mouth opens and closes several times—too stunned to form words.

“Why would you say that?”

“Answer me, Clara.”

“He’s not like other vampires—” the second the words leave my mouth, I know it’s a mistake.

Xander scoffs. “You disgust me.”

I pull in a slow breath, trying to tamp down my anger. Zander is hurt, that’s why he’s lashing out. Pain can cause us to do things we wouldn’t normally do. But I don’t have to take it.

“Xander, you are married—your wife is waiting for you down that hall,” I point vaguely in the direction of the party as I take a step forward into his space. “I won’t live my life as your paramour, I deserve better than that. We have to let go of our past… you need to let me go.”

Xander crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes. I don’t miss how his gaze lingers around my neck. He can stare all he wants, what he’s looking for isn’t there.

I turn and stare distantly into the night. Moonlight lines the trees and land in silver, casting thick shadows everywhere it cannot touch.

“What did you have to give him in return for letting you live? To get such a fine dress? I bet you have many more of them upstairs.”

My gaze snaps to his. He’s gone too far.

“You don’t get to judge me. Alaric has nothing to do with this,” I say. “Just because you’re disappointed in the outcome, doesn’t mean you get to treat me like this. You made your choice, and now we both have to live with the consequences.”

Xander grabs my shoulders, his fingers digging in. “So, you did let that thing touch you.”

My face heats—but not from shame. Because I cannot deny it, even if what happened is different from Xander’s meaning. Because Ihadwanted Alaric… and because I was a fool to think I could come back here and expect everything to be as it was before. Of course, everyone I left behind had to go on living.

But this level of anger from Xander—the sweet boy I’ve known almost all my life—I never would have expected this.

“Xander, please,” I say. I keep my voice soft, hoping it will ease his anger.

“Look at me,” he grinds out.

I swallow. My heart aches. I feel our connection severing as he grasps at every sliver of anger.

Slowly, I raise my eyes.

“How could you?” His face contorts in a sneer. “You betrayed what we had.”

I frown. “Xander, I—”

His fingers dig painfully into my skin. “I bet you fucked that beast and then begged for more just to get whatever you wanted.”

My jaw drops. I scramble to think of something to say. He's being cruel. He's trying to hurt me. Xander knows me better than this. Heknowsme… and still, he thinks so little of me.

I should say that I am not the one who married a stranger at the first opportunity. I’m not the one who vowed their life to another.

But I don’t.

There is already enough pain between us. Causing more won’t do either of us any favors.

When I don’t say anything, Xander tsks and releases me with a weak shove.

I back up into the wall, putting space between us. Xander glares for a long moment then turns on his heel and strides from the room.

I don’t go after him. If this is what he needs to let go, then he can have it.

Chapter Fourteen