Page 50 of Thunder's Reckoning

“I’m looking for Zeke… Thunder.”

Something softened in his eyes, just for a breath. “Office. End of the hall, left side.”

“Thank you.”

I moved quick, past murmured voices and closed doors. The farther I went, the quieter it got, until the silence pressed tight, like it was warning me to turn back. The door at the end bore the wordOFFICE,letters cracked and peeling.

It was cracked open.

I heard her voice first—sweet, sultry. “You miss me, baby?”

Then his. Gravel-edged. Low. Intimate.

My stomach twisted. The ground shifted beneath me. My fingers trembled as I pushed the door wider.

And there they were.

She was straddling him, draped across his lap like she belonged there. Her hands on his shoulders, her mouth grazing the line of his jaw. Zeke’s hands rested on her waist, not pulling her in, not pushing her off, just… there. His head tipped back, his eyes locked on hers. For one second, he’d allowed it. Allowed her. Allowed himself.

He wasn’t kissing her.

But he wasn’t stopping her either.

And that was enough.

My breath rushed out like I’d been punched. The door creaked against my hand, loud in the silence.

They both turned.

His eyes found mine. Widened. Shock. Guilt.

“Sable—”

I didn’t wait.

I turned, heart slamming, the hall tilting under my feet. His voice might’ve followed. His boots might’ve hit the floor. But all I heard was the thunder in my own ears, beating a single rhythm:you were never enough.

I hit the stairs, nearly stumbling, and shoved the basement door closed behind me with a hollow slam.

The house was too quiet. Too still. I pressed my back to the wall, staring at the floorboards like they might tell me why I’d been stupid enough to hope.

Of course. Of course he wouldn’t choose someone like me. Not when he had someone like her—beautiful, bold, confident. The kind of woman the guards used to sneak off with when Gabrial was away.

I was just a broken thing he felt sorry for. A stray he’d taken in out of guilt. A project.

Why had I let myself believe this was different? That he was different?

My vision swam. I told myself I wouldn’t cry.

I lied.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

SHE WAS GONEbefore I could even stand.

The door swinging wide when she rushed away, and for a second, I just sat there. Frozen. Breath locked in my chest. Then the chair scraped back hard against the floor, and I shoved Leena off my lap with hard push.

“What the hell, Thunder?” she snapped, stumbling on her heels.