Chapter 44

Silence stretched the air.

Quietly I closed the door behind me and stepped into the room. "I..." I cleared my throat once my voice came out in a croak. "I-I had to see someone..."

His eyes went feral. "Who?"

Affecting a nonchalant tone, I started to walk past him. "Someone." Was all I said.

His harsh grip around my arm halted me. When he stepped closer to me, the smell of wood and leather filled my nose. He said quietly, "I thought I told you to stay away fro--"

Sharply I held up a hand, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "Stop... Just--stop. I thought I'd made it clear to you, Lan. I will see whoever the hell I want t--Look." I inhaled. "I... I want to be with someone who isn't ashamed of me, someone who doesn't despise my entire species. If you're not ready to be that person." I sighed, tired down to my bones. "Then please leave."

A pause. 

Something in me stung when his hold around my arm loosened. He stormed out of the room.