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Nimrod was beaming. “See? Fucking Newton’s Law.” He focused on Roger. “Dude. I told you the feelings were serious. You need to start listening to me.”

“Fuck off,” Roger spat out, shoving him away.

Nimrod didn’t move, his face hardening. “Ripp and I saved your life, asshole. Maybe show a little appreciation?”

Roger straightened abruptly, his hand massaging his throat as he was still hacking for air. He glared at him, at Cassian, at Emcee, and his gaze landed on me. He winced, seeing that I didn’t give one fuck about societal protocol. I didn’t care if people knew I would’ve killed him.

He saw all of that.

He grimaced again, coughing. “I’m sorry. Okay? I didn’t know things were serious. I didn’t know it was like that.”

“Now you know.” I stepped out of Cassian’s hold, leaving.

The crowd dispersed for me.

Cassian caught up to me. “Hey.”

“Where is she?” I asked over my shoulder, going and grabbing a drink because fuck, did I need it.

“She’s been crying.”

I braked and twisted around to face him. “What? Why? What the fuck did you do?”

He glared at me. “I didn’t do anything. It was you, dick. She told me what you said on the football field.”

Oh. Jesus.

Bypassing the cups, I just grabbed a bottle of rum and began to head out of the kitchen. If she was crying, she was probably in my room. Or, I was hoping she was in my room. I got to the stairs before Cassian said behind me, “It’s not true.”

I stopped. “Excuse me?” That was a punch to my gut.

He folded his arms, raising his chin up. “You and me, we decided that we’re in this with her. It’s her and us, but I swear to God, Lee, if you ever say shit like that to her again, I will cut you in your sleep and I won’t give a shit if you could melt my brain with just a thought. I will do it. You will never make her cry like she’s crying right now. Got it?”

One. Pride swelled up inside of my chest for Cassian threatening me.

Two. “What the fuck did she say I said to her?”

He faltered then. “Uh. What?”

“I told her that she’s my mate, but you’re hers. That’s it.”

His mouth opened, and nothing. No sound came out of it. He tilted his head to the side. “Um. That’s not what I got from what she was saying.”

I cursed, tightened my hold on the rum, and ran up the stairs taking three steps at a time.

I shoved through my door and she was on the bed, curled in on herself and sobbing.

The sounds washed over me, making me want to throw up. “Baby,” I whispered.

She stopped and lifted her head. Her entire face was wet with tears. “You—” She scrambled to her feet on my bed and launched herself at me. Her arms went around me. Her legs wrapped tight too. She pulled at my hair. “You told me that I could leave you.”

I backed up, hitting my closet as Cassian came inside, kicking the door shut. He leaned back against it with a smug smirk on his face.

“Yeah? Because you can.”

“No,” she shrieked. “I can’t! You want to know why?”

She wasn’t hitting me. She just kept pulling at my hair and squeezing me.