Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(36)
Merrick looks at me with a hurt expression.
“You told him what happened?” He turns to look at Ryder.
“It was a mistake and I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I’m not going to kiss her again without her permission,” he says thoughtfully.
Ryder laughs sarcastically, “Well, aren’t you just the gentleman?”
This has gone far enough. I go and push between them putting one hand on Ryder and the other on Merrick to keep them apart. I yell to get their attention.
“Guys, stop it! Let me explain.”
“I think the only explaining that’s going to happen here is me beating the shit out of lover boy over here,” Ryder says while pointing at Merrick.
Merrick takes a few steps back, takes his shirt off and flexes his tanned muscles. He motions for Ryder to come to him.
“Bring it, dickhead.”
Ryder takes his shirt off as well and his body is magnificent. He wastes no time in charging after Merrick. They land punches here and there and all I can see are blurry outlines because they are moving so fast. I am glad they aren’t using weapons. I didn’t even get to explain anything to either one of them. Men are so stubborn and pigheaded. I guess it will be up to me to end the fight. I gather my energy to throw fire balls at them and once I have them in my sight I let them fly. Both Merrick and Ryder fall back with the blast. I didn’t put much heat on them, but I did send them with force. They both get right back up and start at each other again. I have time to see that Merrick has two black eyes and Ryder has a gash on his forehead that’s bleeding down his face.
I can’t take any more of this. They are going to stop and listen to what I have to say or I swear I won’t talk to either one of them ever again. I don’t have time for this shit. I reach down to touch the ground and draw upon the magic of the earth. I can feel the roots travelling in the soil. I close my eyes to concentrate and direct the roots of the nearby trees to where I want them to go. I envision them wrapping around both Ryder’s and Merrick’s legs and pulling them to the ground. A few seconds later, the roots shoot up from the ground and wrap around both guys. They shout expletive words and land flat on their backs. Both of them are breathing hard and bleeding from different areas of their bodies. I give them a second to cool off and am thankful they are too far away from each other to reach.
I walk slowly to stand in between them while they are still lying on the ground. They look up at me and I look at each one of them back and forth. I shake my head and make the roots tighten on their legs. They will soon understand how pissed off I am.
I look at them in the face and scream, “I can’t believe you two are doing this. You didn’t give me any time to explain to either of you what is going on.” I look at Ryder and say, “Ryder, I have never given you a reason to doubt me. Yes, you may have caught us in an odd position, but it was totally innocent and nothing happened. Nothing was going to happen either. You obviously don’t have any trust in me and it breaks my heart. Last night meant more to me than anything in this world.”
Ryder opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.
“I don’t want to hear another word come out of your mouth. I am done talking to you right now.”
I am so angry. I can’t see clearly because the tears are welling up and I don’t want them fall, but they fall anyway. I thought I could hold them in and not show weakness, but it breaks my heart that the man I love doesn’t trust me, and the man that loves me I don’t love back. This is one messed up love triangle.
I take a second to catch my breath and then I look over at Merrick and say, “Merrick, you are my best friend and I do love you, but not in that way. The changes that have happened are because of the prophecy. Apparently, Ryder and I are going to bring about the changes in the kingdoms. Orat least we were.”
I narrow my eyes at Ryder and then turn back to Merrick and say softly, “He’s my destiny.”
The hurt and longing in his face is too much, but Merrick turns his head away from me first. That’s what does me in. There comes a breaking point and I think I just hit mine. I put my head in my hands and I fall to my knees. I cry for what feels like an eternity.
Ryder speaks up.
“Calista, don’t cry,” he says.
I am so pissed at him right now and the last thing I want is for him to console me.
Agitated, I yell, “Shut the hell up and don’t say another word to me right now or I’m going to make these roots really latch on and take your legs off.”
Hurt and understanding passes across his face and I think he realizes how childish he’s been because he actually nods and keeps his mouth shut. I feel so lost and I have no clue what to do. Merrick is still not looking at me. I speak silently so only he can hear.
“I’m so sorry, Merrick. I wanted to love you, but I can’t. I’m falling in love with Ryder and I don’t think that will ever change. Except at this moment I could beg to differ, but the fates of our land depend on him and me.”
“You just met him. How can you say you love him? You’ve known me your whole life, and look what he’s done today. He doesn’t even trust you,” Merrick says to me in his head.
I nod.
“That may be true, but I have to believe there was a good reason for his doubt. It couldn’t have looked good with you on top of me. You have to admit that.”