Riley’s POV
The mont the words left my mouth, I knew I had crossed a line.
Not just any line. A serious one.
I stood there for a second after saying it, staring at Gunnar, but my mind was racing because I didn’t even think before I said it. It just ca out. And now everyone heard it.
I had just threatened him.
And the crazy part was, I didn’t feel bad about it.
I felt angry. Really angry. The kind of anger that makes you want to say everything you’ve been holding back.
Because why was it always like this?
Why was it always my life that people talked about like it didn’t belong to ?
Why did they keep deciding things for like I wasn’t standing right there?
I saw Gunnar’s hands clench, and I knew he was holding himself back, but I didn’t care anymore. For once, I wasn’t going to be the one keeping quiet just to keep peace.
I turned around and walked out.
I didn’t say anything else. I didn’t look back.
I just walked away.
I didn’t even know where I was going. I had no idea where anything was in this place, but I didn’t stop. I just needed to get away from that room before soone tried to talk into calming down.
My steps were fast, and I didn’t slow down.
Then I heard footsteps behind .
I already knew who it was but I didn’t stop.
A few seconds later, he caught up.
"That was harsh," Caden said.
I didn’t answer him. I kept walking.
He moved in front of this ti and blocked my path, forcing to stop.
"What?" I said, already irritated.
He looked at like he was trying to stay calm.
"Sumr is just a kid," he said. "She was trying to help."
I stared at him.
Then I let out a short laugh.
"A kid?" I repeated.
"Yes," he said.
I stepped closer to him.
"She’s a kid, right?" I said. "Then what about all of you?"
He frowned.
"What are you trying to say?" he asked.
"I’m saying you all stood there and let a kid talk about my life like it belongs to her," I said. "You all stood there and listened while she basically decided what should happen to ."
"That’s not what happened," he said.
"That’s exactly what happened," I replied imdiately. "She talked about using like it was just another option, and none of you shut it down."
"We didn’t agree with that," he said.
"But you didn’t stop it either," I shot back. "Did you?."
He stayed quiet for a second.
"That doesn’t an we want that," he said.
"I don’t care what you want," I replied. "What about what I want?"
He didn’t answer.
Of course he didn’t.
"That’s what I thought," I said.
I folded my arms.
"Let make this simple," I continued. "I’m not dying for anyone. Not for you and your brothers, not for anything."
"Riley—" he started.
"No," I cut him off. "I’m not done."
He stopped talking.
"I’m done letting people use like I’m so kind of solution," I said. "Every ti sothing goes wrong, sohow it cos back to . I’m tired of it."
"That’s not how we see you," he said.
"I don’t care about how you see ," I replied. "I care about what you do. And what you do is treat like I don’t have a choice."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"You’re upset," he said."You need to calm down"
"Of course I’m upset," I replied. "Or do you expect to smile while people decide if I live or die?"
"That’s not what we’re doing," he said again.
"It is," I said. "And I’m done with it."
There was a pause. Then I said sothing that clearly caught him off guard.
"I think I should go back to Crescent Hollow," I said.
His head snapped up."What?"
"I don’t need to stay here," I continued. "And that whole marriage thing? I don’t need it anymore."
He stared at ."You’re serious?" he asked.
"Yes," I said.
"You can’t just decide that," he said.
"I just did," I replied.
"That’s not how this works, Riley" he said.
"That’s exactly how it works," I said. "Because it’s my life."
He looked frustrated now.
"You don’t understand what’s happening, do you?" he said.
I frowned.
"What does that an?" I asked.
"Your powers," he said. "They’re starting to show."
I didn’t say anything.
"You just killed a Satyre," he continued. "Do you even understand how serious that is?"
"I know what I did," I said.
"No, you don’t," he replied. "If people find out, you’re going to be in danger."
I shrugged slightly."I’m already in danger," I said.
"This is different," he said.
"How?" I asked.
"Because now you’re becoming a target," he said. "Not just here. Everywhere."
I looked at him.
"That’s not sothing you should be okay with," he said.
"I’m not okay with anything right now," I replied. "But at least if I leave, I won’t be surrounded by people who think they can control ."
"We’re not trying to control you," he said.
"That’s exactly what you and your brothers are doing," I replied.
"No, we’re trying to protect you," he said.
"By deciding things for ?" I asked. "That’s your version of protection?"
He didn’t answer imdiately.
"Look," he said, trying again. "Things are complicated right now."
"No," I said. "You’re making it complicated."
"How?" he asked.
"By acting like I don’t get a say in my own life," I replied.
"You do get a say," he said.
"Then why didn’t anyone ask first before deciding to use to bring back the fucking soul of a dead person!?" I shot back.
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Exactly.
"You see the problem now?" I said.
He exhaled slowly.
"This isn’t just about you," he said. "Cane is dying."
I went quiet for a second.
"I know," I said.
"Then you understand why we’re trying to fix this," he said.
"I do," I replied. "But that doesn’t an I’m going to sacrifice myself."
"There might not be another way," he said.
"Then that’s not my problem," I replied.
He looked at like that answer hit him harder than he expected.
"That’s cold," he said.
"No," I said. "That’s choosing myself Caden."
There’s silence.
Then I looked straight at him and said the one thing I knew would settle this.
"If you really want to save him," I said, "then go back and tell Gunnar to apologize to ."
Caden frowned.
"What?" he asked.
"You heard ," I said. "He apologizes, or Cane dies."
"That’s not sothing you can demand," he said."Gunnar do not apologise to anyone"
"Well, I just did," I replied."His apology or loose Cane"
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