I took a slow step forward, my eyes locked on Blade.
“I have claimed her,” I said, my voice low and steady. “And that doesn’t change. It will never change. Not because of you, and not even because of what you feel.”
Blade didn’t move. His face stayed calm, but his eyes were full of anger. That made it worse. It felt like I was talking, but he wasn’t really hearing me.
He didn’t react, just kept staring like my words meant nothing.
But one thing was clear. I was glad he said it to my face.
What irritated me more was his boldness—just standing there and disrespecting me, like nothing I said mattered, like my words couldn’t even reach him.
At least I wasn’t being blindsided from behind.
I never imagined it would come to this. Me standing in front of Blade—my childhood best friend, the
