Page 126 of Three Irish Kings

That void in my stomach widens, like a bottomless abyss.

She’s gone. She left us. Even though I know it to be true, I search the house anyway, hoping and praying I’m wrong.

I’m not. She’s nowhere.

Of course, she left. She’s probably been planning this for weeks. The way she’s pretended to be sick makes so much sense now.

Despair settles over me like a dark cloud, and I stand in the kitchen for God knows how long, staring into space. I allowed myself to have hope, and this is what happens.

Stupid.

As if she ever would have chosen me, anyway, when Dare and Liam were right there.

She obviously has a closer connection with Liam than anyone suspects, given how I found them cuddling on the couch.

Liam doesn’tcuddle.

And Dare has been crazy about her since day one, buying her gifts, showering her with affection. Even if she didn’t betray us, I was an idiot for believing I ever had a shot.

Who am I? Nothing but Ronan’s weapon. Nobody. No one has ever loved me, and no one ever will.

I slowly walk back to Isla’s old room, a tiny arrow piercing my heart when I see all her things, the books Liam brought her, all the gifts Dare gave her.

She left everything behind. She leftusbehind.

Dare is still blissfully sleeping, ignorant, and I almost feel bad when I shake him awake.

“Huh?” His eyes are bleary when he looks at me. He yawns, rubbing his face with one hand. “What are you doing here? Did I sleep all the way through until the next day like Rip van Winkle?”

I don’t laugh, don’t smile, don’t react at all.

He slowly sits up, likely seeing my face and realizing something is wrong.

“Where’s Isla?”

“She took your car.”

Dare’s eyes widen, his face falling. “You’re not serious.”

My throat feels like there’s a rock in it when I speak. “She’s gone, Dare. She left us.”

“No.” Dare stands up, putting on his sweats, checking his pockets. “No, she didn’t leave.” He pulls out his phone and keeps searching in his pocket.

I sigh. “Your keys and wallet are gone, aren’t they?”

“I just... I misplaced them.” Desperation is evident on his face. “I probably put them down in the kitchen when I came in?—”

I take his bare shoulder in my hands, forcing him to look at me. “It’s over, Dare. She split. We have to figure out how to find her.”

Before she gets hurt.

God, even knowing she’s betrayed us all, I want her back. I don’t care.

What was she supposed to do? We had her prisoner for months.

Of course, she’d want to escape. She never cared about any of us.

Dare breathes hard, his chest heaving. “She’s not gone. She just... Maybe she went to the store or something, I don’t know.”