Eighteen

Ziah

My belly knotted with nerves at what I had just done, and I didn't know what to feel. It was embarrassing to think that I had rejected Camilla, but she welcomed me in.

What we had just done felt so natural. But how could it be, given that I was Vespa's fated mate?

This was completely wrong, and I was confused. I adored Vespa and was bound to her. Yet, I couldn't stop thinking about Camilla. It was so intense that I abandoned my room for hers.

This was entirely Vespa's fault. She did not give me a second thought and kept sharing herself with me and my brothers. But with Camilla, it was different; she made me feel alive.

I couldn't believe I was thinking this, but maybe I had never stopped liking her. Maybe I was just convincing myself otherwise. Perhaps the fear of being the coward who abandons Vespa for Kai and Zeke drove me to reject Camilla.

I couldn't say anything to her, nor could I blame her for anything. She felt worse than before, and everything happened so quickly. I was