Page 82 of His Bullied Fated Mate

I had made it downstairs into the living room to sit on the couch under the sun. I had three blankets wrapped around me and a cup of tea in my hands.

Riley sat across the couch. “Janella, I think you should go to the infirmary again.”

I shook my head. “There isn’t anything they can do.”

“Well, we can’t sit here and twiddle our thumbs hoping it just leaves. It’s not.”

I didn’t know what to tell him. The times I wasn’t feeling like shit, I read. Sherry said she’d been looking in books, asking around, but was coming up empty on answers. I was trying to remain calm, but I was getting worried as the days went by.

“Riley, this is just going to take time.”

He crossed his arms. “I can see how draining this is for you, Janella. I want a solution.”

“It’s not that simple.”

I watched his nostrils flare. “Maybe the witches aren’t looking for a solution hard enough.”

“Riley, it’s not their fault. They are trying to figure it out.”

There was a knock at the front door, and he grumbled irritably. “Come in.”

The door was pulled open, and Troy stepped in. He offered a tight smile. “Hey, sis. How are you feeling?”

“How does she look?” Riley snapped as he turned to Troy.

My eyebrows went up at his anger. “Riley.”

Troy waved a hand. “I’m just here to check in. Maybe this is a bad time.”

“You think?” Riley snapped.

“Riley! Enough.” I snapped at him. “Calm down.”

“I am calm.” He growled.

“No, you aren’t.”

Troy put his hands up. “I can come back.”

“No, come on in! It’s not like we aren’t trying to figure shit out. You're not interrupting.”

“Enough, Riley.”

“Don’t…”

Troy didn't even let him finish before he took a close step towards me. I could see the way Troy’s jaw set his eyes narrowing on Riley. “Watch it, Riley.”

I could feel the tension growing, and Riley’s nostrils flared. I knew he was losing his temper, losing control over himself. I thought of the last time it happened and the mess his bedroom had been. I couldn’t let it happen again. I wouldn’t.

“Riley.” I moved closer and raised a hand. “You need to calm down.”

“I am calm!” He yelled. Troy grabbed him, shoving him a step back from me.

I threw my handout, placing one on Troy and one on Riley to divide them up. “Enough! We are not going to fight.”

I watched as Riley’s face shifted from anger into pure rage. I then felt that shift. That darkness that had been settling in me was suddenly gone. I felt my stomach dip, and I couldn’t breathe as I watched Riley’s face shift into someone I didn’t know.

Chapter 23 - Riley