Mae POV
Tish and I are huddled in the closet. My anxiety is getting higher by the moment, and I am unable to stop myself from shaking. I wish I knew what was going on outside of these walls. If I knew, it would make me feel like I had some control over the situation.
Tish holds me close to her side and runs her fingers along my back, but for some reason, it only serves to make me more irritated. Typically, I would run to Tish whenever I am unable to control my anxiety, but right now, I only want Kieran. My mind is running through all the possible scenarios, and none of them have a positive outcome.
I shrug away from Tish's touch. She looks hurt but she doesn't say anything to me. I pace back and forth in the empty closet, trying to calm the panic attack threatening to take over.
"Would you sit down?" Tish hisses at me. "I am sure everything is fine."
I spin around and glare at her. "Why aren't you more concerned?"
Tish leans back against the wall and picks at the sides of her fingernails. "Kieran is a big boy," she says sarcastically. "I am sure he can take care of himself. Plus, if something bad happens to him, we can go back to life as usual."
"What did you just say?" I snap at her.
"You heard me," Tish rolls her eyes. "Once he is out of our lives, everything can return to normal."
"What if I don't want him out of my life?" I question her.
"You don't believe in all of this mate bond bullshit, do you?" Tish chuckles. "He is obviously a man whore. He slept with me in a crowded bar, for fucks sake. Once he gets done with you, he will toss you to the side."
"Just because he used you and tossed you to the side doesn't mean we are the same," I say through gritted teeth.
Tish rolls her eyes. "Don't come running to me when your heart is broken. I won't be around to pick up the pieces this time."
"Who are you right now?" I gasp. "This isn't the Tish I know and love."
Tish gets to her feet and rests her hands on my shoulders. "I just don't want to see you hurt. I know their kind, and I know what they are capable of. We should leave while we have the chance."
I step away from her and shake my head. "You are the one that wanted me to come here. If you felt this way, why did you convince me to come in the first place?"
Tish turns her back to me and lets out a huff of frustration. "I guess I was hoping you would see that he isn't worth it and we would be better together without him. But now you are blinded by his money."
"Are you calling me a gold digger?" I accuse her.
"If the shoe fits," Tish shrugs. "You weren't nearly as interested in him until we came here. Maybe you are tired of living in squalor with me."
I throw my hands up in frustration. "You wouldn't be saying these things if the shoe was on the other foot. If he were your mate, I would be supportive."
The panic in my chest is replaced with anger as I look at my so-called best friend. She is looking at me with a look of indifference on her face. It is like she is a completely different person from the one that I have known.
"Did you not hear what they called me?" Tish grumbles. "They accused me of being a pet."
"No one thinks you are a pet," I scream at her.
"Are you sure?" Tish screams back. "What if they start looking at you the same way?"
"Just don't talk to me right now," I hiss at her.
"Fine," Tish spits at me.
She turns her back to me and sits on the ground facing the opposite wall. I glare at her for a moment before turning my back on her and staring at the door.
I don't know how long we sit in silence, ignoring one another, but the silence is beginning to get to me.
Just when I am about to break the silence between us, there is a knock on the closet door.
"Mae?" Kieran calls out through the door. "It is me. It is safe to come out now."
I rush to my feet and hit the red button beside the door. The locks click, and the door swings open. Kieran is standing on the other side of the door in only a pair of gym shorts. His skin is caked with blood, and there are scratches all over his body.
"Oh my God," I exclaim. "You are hurt!"
"I am fine, Sweetheart," he says weakly. "The blood doesn't belong to me."
Not caring about the blood that is covering him, I thrust myself into his arms. I let the tingles accompanying his touch spread throughout my body calm me. But the weight of the situation comes crashing down on me, and I begin to cry.
Tears stream down my face, and loud sobs come from my chest. Kieran tightens his arms around me and shushes me. "It's okay," he tells me. "It won't happen again. We let our guard down, but we will never do that ever again."
A loud scoff comes from behind me, and I turn in Kieran's arms to see Tish watching us with her arms crossed over her chest. "Shit like this happens all the time in your world."
"Just because you are a familiar doesn't mean you know everything about our world," Kieran snaps at her.
"Come on, Mae," Tish holds her hand out for me. "You don't need to be alone tonight."
I look between Tish and Kieran and tighten my arms around Kieran's waist. Kieran wipes my blonde hair out of my face and places a kiss on my forehead. "She can stay with me if she feels unsafe," Kieran says stiffly to Tish.
"What will it be?" Tish keeps her hand reached out for mine.
"I will stay with Kieran," I whisper, hiding my head in his chest.
Tish lets out a huff and storms out of the room. She slams the door shut behind her, and tears continue streaming down my face.
"What happened in that closet?" Kieran wonders allowed.
"Tish showed me her true colors," I whimper.