Chapter 20 WHO'S STALKING WHO?
MERRIELYNN.
Cormac closed the distance between us, letting the door shut with a soft click that sounded too final.
I felt the air tighten, almost like he was sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
His gaze held me in place, and my heart pounded louder, echoing in my ears. He took a step closer, and in that quiet, tense way of his, he asked, “Why are you here?”
For a moment, I couldn’t answer. My thoughts tumbled over each other, reminding me that this wasn’t Cormac’s house. Emorie had told me on the way here that the party was Valtor’s doing, not Cormac’s.
But now, with him standing here, his question sounded like an accusation, and I felt a flash of something – defiance, maybe? – rise up inside me.
So, I lifted my chin and managed to sound braver than I felt. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Are you going to declare that I’m banned from every party in town now? Or is this one off-limits too?”
He watched me with those unreadable eyes, barely moving, but I felt his attention sharpen. Something about his silence made me feel like I was losing some invisible battle, so I pushed harder. “Is that how you keep everyone in line? By blackmailing them? Maybe Valtor is just another little puppy trailing after you.”
Cormac’s mouth twisted into something like a smirk, but it lacked any real humor. “That’s what you think is going on?” he asked, his voice low.
“Am I wrong?”
There was a flicker in his eyes, a glint of something that looked a lot like annoyance. “We’re more like brothers. No blood, but still brothers. Not that it’s any of your business.” He slid his hands into his pockets and studied me with a look that was both curious and challenging. “Are you fishing for information, Merrielynn?”
His arrogance sparked something hot and angry inside me, and I could feel my annoyance building. “How big is your ego, exactly? First, I’m apparently stalking you, and now you think I’m interested in your personal life?”
Cormac’s lips curved, and he threw my own words back at me with a quiet, “Am I wrong?”
I clenched my fists, holding onto my irritation like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. “You’re the one who cornered me, remember? So get off it.”
For a moment, he said nothing, just watched me with that sharp gaze. Then, as if drawn by some magnetic force, his eyes dropped from my face to my chest.
No, not my chest—my necklace.
The familiar feeling of discomfort washed over me as he stared at it, his expression darkening slightly, and before I knew it, he reached toward it, fingers stretching toward the delicate chain. Instinct kicked in, and I slapped his hand away before he could touch it.
The suddenness of it surprised him, and something flickered in his eyes. But just then, the door opened, and Emorie stepped inside, wide-eyed and holding two red Solo cups. Relief flooded through me, and I immediately moved toward her, practically dragging her out of the room with me.
As we walked back into the crowded hallway, she handed me one of the cups, giving me a sly grin. “You, my friend, are the bravest girl alive.”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to shake off the tension still buzzing under my skin. “What are you talking about?”
Emorie nudged me with her shoulder, looking back toward the room we’d just left. “I just had a front-row seat to… whatever that was.”
I tried to laugh it off, taking a sip from my cup, but the drink burned down my throat, and my thoughts were still all over the place. I took another long sip, hoping the alcohol might calm my nerves. Emorie watched me, concerned. “Whoa, slow down there.”
But I couldn’t help it. My throat felt dry, and no matter how much I drank, I couldn’t shake that strange, rattled feeling. Cormac had this way of getting under my skin, making me feel both furious and… something else I couldn’t even name.
Emorie’s voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. “I guess they’re back together again.”
I looked at her, frowning. “Who?”
She didn’t answer, just tilted her head toward the staircase, directing my gaze upward. I followed her line of sight, and my eyes landed on Cormac again, standing on the balcony that overlooked the main floor.
And then I saw Juniper standing next to him, her arm wrapped around his shoulders, her long, manicured nails tracing down the side of his face. She tilted his head toward her.
Cormac’s eyes dropped down to where I stood, and for a split second, our gazes locked.
I could feel the weight of his stare, almost as if he was daring me to look away. But then, as if to make some kind of point, he let Juniper turn his head, her fingers guiding him until his mouth met hers in a slow, deliberate kiss.
Something twisted in my chest, tight and uncomfortable, like an ache I couldn’t quite place. I tore my eyes away, trying to pretend it didn’t bother me, that I didn’t care. But the feeling remained, stubborn and unyielding.
Emorie nudged me gently, “Hey, you good?”
I forced a smile, nodding. “Yeah, just… thirsty, I guess.”
I wasn’t really sure if I was fooling her, but I voiced out, “Come on, let’s enjoy the party.”
We wandered through the crowd, the music loud and pulsing around us, but no matter where I looked or what I tried to focus on, I kept feeling that prickling sensation, the memory of Cormac’s intense gaze and the sight of him with Juniper on that balcony, like they were putting on a show for the whole world to see.
For me, to see.
I lifted my cup again, this time taking a longer drink, letting the bitter taste flood my senses and drown out everything else.