Kamrynn's POV
I pulled on my favorite sweatpants and sweatshirt combo, craving something soft and comforting against my skin. The cotton material of the sweatshirt was elastic so it fit snugly around my belly.
Today had been a mess of emotions, and I wanted to escape the confines of my room and join the others outside where the air felt lighter. After tying my hair back and glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I headed to the door.
As I opened it, I froze. Kyven stood there, fresh from a shower, his hair damp and his casual clothes neatly pressed. His expression was unreadable, a mix of ease and uncertainty.
"Hey," he greeted, his voice light, as if we were picking up from a normal day. "I just wanted to check on you. How are you holding up?"
I blinked at him, my surprise quickly replaced by irritation. "Holding up?" I echoed, my voice colder than I intended. "Why do you care?"
His brow furrowed as he straightened up. "What's with the tone? Did I do something wrong?"
I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe, glaring at him. "If you don't have anything important to say, you should go. I don't have the energy for whatever this is, and I'd rather not waste my time."
Kyven looked genuinely taken aback, his confusion plain on his face. "Wow," he said, running a hand through his damp hair. "What's going on with you?"
"What do you mean, 'what's going on'?" I shot back, my voice dripping with impatience.
He sighed, his tone softening but still probing. "Why are you being like this? Is it because of Thalia?"
Her name hit me like a slap, but I masked the flinch quickly, lifting my chin. "What are you even talking about?" I said, my voice steady but clipped.
"You're being rude," he said plainly, his sharp gaze pinning me in place. "I want to know why. Are you jealous?"
My patience snapped. "Jealous?" I spat, stepping closer to him. "Why the hell would I be jealous just because you found your fated mate?"
The corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk, and it only fueled my fury. "Your reaction says otherwise. Just admit it."
"You're delusional," I said, my tone sharp enough to cut. "Stop spouting nonsense."
His smirk vanished, replaced by a hardened expression. "Why are you jealous of Thalia? You don't even have feelings for me. You made that abundantly clear."
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "I'm not jealous of Thalia, I have no reason to be. Stop thinking like a child, Kyven. And stop acting like one."
"Me?" he shot back, his voice rising. "I'm the childish one? You're the one acting like a jealous bitch."
The word hit like a physical blow, and I took a step back, staring at him in disbelief. "Is that what you really think of me?" I asked, my voice trembling with anger. "Tell me something, Kyven. Do you actually like Thalia, or are you just pretending to be smitten with her to get a reaction out of me?"
He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "I would never lie about my feelings," he said firmly. "I'd never do something as stupid as deceiving my mate just to impress you."
His words sank in, sharp and painful, because they contradicted everything he'd said to me last night. My breath hitched, but I pushed forward. "Then why did you kiss me last night?" My voice wavered, but I kept my gaze locked on his. "If you don't lie about your feelings or play with other people's emotions, why did you confess to me and then corner me to kiss me? Even after I told you no?"
Kyven stared at me in silence, the weight of it pressing down on my chest. My breath hitched despite myself, the uncertainty eating away at my resolve. Just when I thought the quiet would stretch on forever, he finally spoke.
"I wasn't lying about my feelings for you," he said, his voice low and measured. "At least, I didn't think I was-until this afternoon, when I found my fated mate."
The words hit me harder than I expected, and I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow. "Love doesn't work like that, Kyven. Feelings don't just disappear the moment someone more appealing shows up. That's not how it's supposed to work."
He didn't react, his expression calm, almost resigned. I forced a smile, trying to keep my composure. "But you know what? You've just proven me right. I was right to shut you down. It was never real. It was only infatuation, just like I predicted."
Kyven's lips curved into a small smile, but it wasn't mocking or sarcastic. It was simply... sad. "You're right," he said, his tone surprisingly soft. "When I kissed you last night, I thought I felt something. But I guess it was just... natural. A reaction to kissing someone." He paused, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Whatever I felt for you is gone now. I've found my other half-my true love. And I intend to give her everything I have."
My throat tightened as his words sank in. He continued, his voice steady but firm. "You must be happy now. You don't have to worry anymore. I won't bother you again."
Before I could find the words to respond, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. I stood frozen, staring after him, my chest aching in a way I couldn't understand.
Slowly, I closed the door and leaned against it, sliding down until I was sitting on the cold floor. My chest heaved and my hands trembled, the pain in my chest growing heavier with each passing second.
"It's your heart," Aryna said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "It's hurting."
"Don't," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I don't need your pity."
But the words did little to stop the storm raging inside me. It was true-I never had real feelings for Kyven. He was just Rmonica's nephew to me, nothing more. I'm glad he found his fated mate. Truly, I am. But his reaction, the way he'd gone from kissing me as if I were the only thing that mattered to treating me like I didn't exist-it hurt more than I could explain.
The intrusive thoughts crept in, cruel and relentless. 'You're such a fool, Kamrynn. Letting one little kiss deceive you. What did you think was going to happen, huh? Did you think he'd reject his mate for you? You're not worth fighting for. You've never been worth anyone's love, and you should know that by now.'
Aryna's voice cut through the noise, desperate to pull me back. "Stop this, Kamrynn. Don't let these thoughts consume you."
But I was inconsolable. It had happened again. The fated mate always won. Always. First Calvin chose Sherelle, and now Kyven had chosen Thalia. No matter how much I tried to tell myself it didn't matter, it did.
The irony of it all burned. I was supposed to be the Moon Goddess's descendant, powerful and unique. Yet, here I was, unable to find my own mate. Perhaps I wasn't fated to anyone. Perhaps I was cursed to be alone.
I hated it. I hated the loneliness, the emptiness. I just wanted to be loved. To be chosen. Was that too much to ask?
The tears came then, hot and relentless, spilling down my cheeks as the ache in my chest finally broke free. I cried quietly, muffling my sobs in my hands. Minutes passed before I managed to pull myself together, the tears slowing until they stopped altogether.
I inhaled shakily, forcing myself to my feet. My legs felt weak, but I shuffled to the mirror and stared at my reflection. My eyes were red, my cheeks blotchy. I looked like a mess.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "Not tonight."
I grabbed my makeup and began fixing my face, each stroke of the brush grounding me a little more. By the time I finished, I looked presentable again, if not perfect. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and stepped toward the door.
I didn't know if I could face Kyven after everything that had happened, but I wasn't going to let him ruin this night for me. I was determined to enjoy the festival, no matter what.