Page 59 of Craved By the Vissigroth

But the damage has been done.

On my carpet.

On me.

I pull away from him.

“Brit,” he begins.

“You knew,” I say, tone sharp, but quiet. I can’t wake Rox right now. I fucking can’t. “You knew and didn’t tell me.”

“I only just found out?—”

“When?” I ask.

The guilt sliding across his face is enough of an answer.

“Right,” I whisper.

He knew.

And he kept it from me.

That’s…another hurt.

And it’s one too many.

“Don’t,” I say when he comes toward me. “Just don’t.”

“Baby—”

I look down the hall, see Stefan coming toward me.

“—just take a second and?—”

I can’t.

Do this.

See him.

Talk to either of them.

But I’m not a coward, despite my idiocy of the last months. I don’t run or cower. I face the puck, cut off the angles, protect the crease.

Protect…

Myself.

I inhale, hold my breath for a long moment, and then I exhale, look at both of them. “I need some space,” I say.

Dan’s mouth presses flat.

Stefan takes a step toward me.

“From both of you.” I grind my teeth together. “Please respect that.”

Then I whirl on my heel and get the fuck out of this house.