Page 33 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
“Yes!”
“Did you love that diversion?”
Briar stared at me, his mouth opening around nothing.
When I pulled back this time, he didn’t stop me.
“What I felt for Laurel was—a mistake.”
I bit down on my trembling lip, trying to stem the rest of my tears. “Do you still love her?”
Stricken, Briar looked away. “Amy—”
Goddess help me, I didn’t want to ask my next question, but I needed the answer. “Do you loveme?”
His eyelids lowered. “I’m trying.”
Nope, that’s not what you want to hear.
Stunning, the sting of those two words. I wasn’t in love with Briar either. Yet, I’d thought we’d been building a bridge to that end. I hadn’t been forcing it. Evidently, he had.
I couldn’t be with someone who had totry.
Briar gasped as my tears sprung free. He reached for me again. “Amy, I’m sorry. That wasn’t—”
He shut up when I raised my hand. To slap him, tohurthim. But I completely lacked the nerve. Instead, I curled my fingers in so hard I gouged my palms.
“Stay away from me,” I hissed, then barreled out the door.
Eight
Afterstormingtomytent on Avalon Green, ignoring the speculating glances from those awakening in the sunshine, I brushed my hair in a fury, cursing my relatives and their supposed pact the entire time. What had they promised Briar in exchange for seducing me? Was this how they’d rein in my ambitions? Get me knocked up and married?
Screw that!
I rifled through my belongings until I found my purse, wiped my tears, and shot from my tent to beg a ride to the nearest pharmacy from a group of youngbloods on their way to brunch.
The disheveled girls blinked at one another but quickly assented to drive me. Minutes later, we stopped at my requested destination. I thanked them for the ride and said they could head on without me.
Zinnia Ninebark watched me through the driver’s side window of her orange mustang, her chestnut hair curling around her angular face. “Sure you don’t want us to stay until you’re done? We could drive you back.”
“No, but thank you,” I replied, rocky-voiced, eyes still swimming. “It’s not that far. I’ll just walk back.”
Besides, I didn’t want them knowing what I was doing. They’d definitely frown on me for it.
Uncertain though she seemed, Zinnia sighed. “As you wish.”
The bushy-browed pharmacist was more than discreet when I whispered that I needed emergency contraception. He bagged my pills and instructed me on how to take them. I paid him forty bucks with my bank card, then bought a bottle of water at the front counter. After that, I trudged back out into the rejuvenating breeze and plopped down on the sidewalk alongside the building.
Weeping, I dangled my purchase between my legs, then retrieved my MulBerry from my purse and called the first person I thought of. My phone dialed the right number for once, and Daddy picked up.
“Hello, daughter,” he greeted me in a knowing voice. “I’m surprised to hear from you so early after your first Beltane. Thought you’d be down for the count.”
I smiled through my tears. “Naw, I’m doing all right. I can handle my moonberry cider better than Aunt Aylie and Uncle Neel.”
“I’d say you’re right. They returned home half an hour ago, and I’ve seen corpses who look livelier.”
So, my aunt and uncle had left me at the green, expecting Briar to drive me home now that we’d become intimate. Something they wouldn’t know if they hadn’t been all up in my business.
