Chapter 41

“You’ve broken promises before, Conri.” I placed my hands flat on the floorboards, my claws gouging scratch marks as frustration flooded me. I heard her sniffle and smelt salt in the air. She was crying, and that made my soul ache. “I’ve always been on my own. Only counted on me, and then you came into my life and changed that. You now have the power to make me feel everything but destroy me into nothing.”

“I will never hurt you, Rieka. I will never make you feel like that. Ever.”

“Easier said than done, Conri.” It was quiet for several minutes before I heard rustling under the bed and bones cracking. Seconds later, Rieka crawled out from under the bed, and I had to fight the urge to purr. She looked up at me, her beautiful Grey eyes full of worry and panic. “No purring?” I frowned at her.

“I told you before, Rieka, sometimes I can’t help it.” The panic in her eyes darkened, and I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “But I promise I won’t use it to push you into submission, o