My feet were folded to my chest, my arms wrapped around my knees, as I whispered everything I knew to Ren.

"I think he broke his hand, Ren."

Ren was practically leaning into me, trying to hear what I was saying. I'm surprised he even understood anything with the speed and volume I was speaking at.

"Wait, how do you know he did this?" He asked, his expression confused.

"I just know." I whispered.

Ren rubbed a hand down his face.

"I don't know what you want me to say, but I will say this," Ren started and I looked up to meet his eyes.

"In all the couples I've seen, I've never known the C'Riel to be...jealous." He said.

I snorted. "Rey seemed pretty damn jealous," I stated, having observed her behaviour at the bonfire.

"Threatened," he corrected, "Besides, I'm talking about the couples in which the C'Riel man has pursued a human."

I sighed and stretched my feet out in front of me and leaned back against the wall I had been sitting in front of. Ren gave me a sad smile and came to sit beside me, mirroring my position.

"I don't know why you're seeing this as a good thing," I muttered.

"Because it means he might actually care." Ren said, before letting out a breath and continuing, "And maybe that all these thoughts in my head are not real. I don't really know. Can you describe your relationship to me?"

I let out a small bitter laugh.

"Relationship." I scoffed at the word.

"Amour," Ren said in a softly chiding tone.

I huffed out a breath, moving closer and leaning my head against his shoulder.

I explained, in short sentences and a nonchalant voice of most of the things that had happened between us. I told him of their laws about touching and about how he took me to see Miesha, stood up against Anya, tried to get me out of trouble, stalked me, saved me, took me to the infant care and gave me unrestricted access to it, took me to his room and gave me unrestricted access again, smiled at me, laughed with me, sometimes even took care of me and..became my friend.

Ren took a deep breath in almost as if in shock and I looked up at him.

"What?" I asked.

He turned around, catching hold of my arms.

"Do you know about the C'Riel's biologically programmed capabilities of finding mates?" He asked.

I stared at my best friend for a good long time. I don't think I've ever thought anything he said didn't make sense until this very moment.

"What?" I asked, incredulously.

"Amour, I think he's-"

A loud beep shocked the both of us, having us jump a foot in the air.

He looked behind him at his door and got up to walk to it to allow the person to enter.

I couldn't see who it was from my position, but it was a male C'Riel. I got up, hugging myself, as I caught a glimpse of the blonde C'Riel who was speaking in low terse statements with Ren. So low, it skated below my hearing.

Ren said something for which the C'Riel crossed his arms and stood, as if to say he wasn't going anywhere.

Ren's hands were fisted at his sides for a few tense moments as they stared each other down, before Ren turned to look at me and sighed.

"He's here to escort you back to you room." He said, finally.

I blinked.

"What's the problem if I stay here?" I asked, confused. No one has come and escorted me out when I'd gone to Rafe's.

Then again...Rafe was Rafe. The son of the Leader. Lord knows, he's probably allowed to get away with murder.

"It is prohibited." The C'Riel said, blue-white eyes trained on me.

My brows furrowed and I looked at Ren just as I was about to argue, but Ren discretely shook his head, no, at me and I immediately quietened.

I tossed him a questioning look and he cleared his throat, "I'll see you tomorrow." He said.

I stood there in shock.

Was he seriously kicking me out?

I met Ren's eyes and he slowly nodded his head at me. I sighed and walked out. The C'Riel followed me all the way to my room.

He stood there with a stoic face until my door closed. I stared at the wall for a few minutes lost in questions of my own when a continuous beeping sound had me furrowing my eyebrows and looking around.

My communication device had lit up. I walked to it and picked it up and the first message I saw was from Ace.

You need to come back.

Confused, I pulled aside his message to see who else had messaged. My phone beeped again in my hand.

Whoa. Your lover boy is on a roll.

That was Freesia.

Then Wolf had sent: What crawled up his pants and died?

Freesia again: His fists seem to be itching a lot recently.

I sent all of them the same reply: What are you talking about?

Freesia was the first to reply: Dude, he's been on an anger spree. He totally kicked that blonde C'Riel's ass today.

Which blonde C'Riel? I asked.

Wolf replied to my first question: He kicked his best friend's ass today.

Freesia: Ya know? The blonde with vampire eyes?

Blonde with vampire eyes. His best friend.

Ace.

Ah, frack.

I immediately messaged Ace.

What's happening to him?

Just get back here. Ace replied.

Why do I have to come back? I'm perfectly fine here, thanks.

If you do not agree to come back when I ask cordially, I will have it ordered. Ace said.

I stilled.

You sound an awful lot like him. I said.

No. I'm not like him. I'm worse. Ace said.

My teeth ground against one another.

I'm not coming back. He said.

I held back today because I could understand why he was angry. Do not expect me to extend the same courtesy the next time. He replied.

Did he just threaten me? He threatened me by saying he'd hit Rafe back?

Rafe can hold his ground, Amour! The last thing he needs is...

I don't even know what he needs. He hasn't contacted me at all the whole time I was here.

You're mistaken if you think that that would motivate me to come. Besides, how would me coming there help? Clearly he has anger issues. I replied.

I'm not mistaken. And, he does not have anger issues. His issues lie elsewhere. He said in reply.

Letting out a breath, I rubbed my hands down my face.

Leave. Now. Ace said.

It's night time. I said.

Tomorrow, then. Ace replied.

I didn't bother replying. I tossed my communication device aside. I stood up and left my room. I left the whole bloody building. Nobody stopped me. I don't know why, maybe because I didn't see anybody and I don't think anyone saw me. But what were the chances?

I wasn't in the right state of mind to think about that because anger simmered in me. I breathed in deep, trying to get some rational thought enter my head. I pressed my eyes closed, fisted my hands at my side and tried to breathe deep. I was tempted to get into a damn Hover and go back to my District and box some sense into his brains.

My teeth gritted again and I couldn't help it, I stomped my foot on the ground in anger.

"What is your problem?" I asked the skies.

"What do you want from me? I don't-" I let out a breath, pressing my wrists against my eyes, my whole face burning. Embarrassment or anger, I wasn't sure.

Just as it had come, the anger left me. Leaving me tired. Worried.

"What are you doing?" I murmured. I wasn't talking to myself. I was talking to him.

He just couldn't hear me.

I slipped to the floor, hugging my feet to my chest. My voice went softer.

"Why are you hitting people?" I asked.

Then I laughed.

"You've officially driven my crazy." I said, "I'm talking to myself. Out loud."

"Ma'am?" A female voice said and I jolted and looked behind me.

A dark-haired C'Riel (how had I not noticed that she'd come?) held something out to me.

It was a Com.

My eyebrows raised.

"What..?" I trailed off as she handed it to me, careful not to touch my skin.

I took it from her as she said, "Sir wishes to speak to you."

Sir?

I put it on my ear and heard...Ace.

You've got to come back, Amour. He said.

This is ridiculous. You just threatened me. I thought you were my friend. I said.

I am your friend. He said.

Bullshit. I said.

I'm his friend too. He said.

My jaw flexed.

You're just doing what you think is right for him.

And what is right for you. He said.

This is a load of- But Ace cut me off.

Amour. Listen to me. He is being self-destructive.

How is this my responsibility? I asked.

It is more than your responsibility. It is your fault.

Excuse me?! I said, and I'm sure Ace heard the incredulity in my voice.

I think I gave you more credit than you deserve. Ace said, and this time I was shocked at the disgust in his voice.

Ace..? I said, a little hurt.

I thought you would be someone who would understand him. But all you did was leave him to go see another man, dance with someone else and indulge in all the doubts planted in your head. What about the doubts you planted him in him? He suffers alone, Amour. I thought he deserves you because I thought you were different. But I was wrong, you don't deserve him.

I pulled off the Com when I realised that he wasn't there anymore on the Com. I handed it back to the C'Riel, who took it and left me alone in my silence.

In my thoughts.

In my...mistakes?

__ __

I lasted one whole day despite the doubts and guilt that piled on me.

Ace was right. I was doing to him what I accused him of doing to me. Stringing me along.

I'd just up and left. I was protecting myself then, but I realise now, in the process...I was also hurting him.

I just didn't think it would hurt him. He's always been so...detached in his own way. I was always the vulnerable one in this..this relationship. I've never thought that he would...get hurt.

He's never exactly been very forthright about anything.

Or maybe I've been reading this wrong? Maybe everything I thought didn't mean anything, meant something?

"You should leave," Ren said to me that evening.

I looked at him surprised, "What?" I asked.

"You should leave." Ren repeated.

I threw him a confused look and he elaborated, "Red, clearly your head and heart are elsewhere."

When I started to interrupt he put up his hand up to stop me.

"I don't blame you. Things are...confusing for you," he said and took my by the shoulders, "Just...be careful."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and nodded.

An hour later my stuff was packed and I was walking towards the Station with Ren beside me. He was very quiet, despite my attempts at conversation—which was falling flat.

By the time we reached the Station, I had given up getting him to give me anything more than single-worded answers. I gave him a hug and murmured my good-bye to him.

He stopped me just as I got onto the Hover.

"Ask him about..." Ren stopped, letting out a slow breath and shutting his eyes. He opened them again and looked at me.

"Ask him...what?" I prompted.

"Surrendering." He said finally and I stared.

Surrendering?

The Hover made a sound that indicates it was to leave and I quickly got onto it after another quick hug.

I got into the Hover wondering...what?

What the hell was surrendering?

I sent Anya a message, because right now, I didn't want to talk to anyone else. The irony.

I am coming back. I need an escort.

__ __

Taking a deep breath I step out of the Hover. When I saw who came to escort me to my Resting Station, my eyebrows hit a all new high.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked her and she tucked the strands of perfectly blonde hair behind her ears.

"Oh, it is anything but pleasure." Anya told me, her eyes narrowing.

Clearly sarcasm was lost on her.

"Shall we?" She asked.

"Please." I said.

Faster this is over, the more chances I have of coming out of this without any battery and assault charges being filed against me.

Or whatever it is that is done on this planet.

She hopped into her Hover Motorbike and I got after her wondering what I had done to deserve this visit.

Alone time, I guess.

"You are back early," she stated.

"Clearly you're here to say or ask something. So why don't you just do that and leave the pleasantries out of it?" I said.

Anya was quiet for sometime.

"There are somethings that you do not know about Rafe." She said.

"There are many things I do not know about Rafe." I corrected.

"But I know everything." she stated.

"Congratulations," I muttered into the air, hoping she didn't catch it.

She stopped the Hover suddenly and I had to hold on for dear life so that I didn't end up accidentally fall on her.

She got off the bike with the kind of agility that could evince jealousy in even a ballet dancer. I continued to sit on the bike, watching her as she turned to face me.

"Let me tell you something," she said and I raised an eyebrow, "He may find you amusing. Funny, even. But there is nothing that stops me from—"

"Smashing my face into the closest tree? Yes, I know," I said, "Get to the point."

My nerves were frayed from the anger, impatience and guilt I've been feeling the past weeks, the last thing I had right now was patience.

Anya leaned back and smiled. But there was nothing nice about this smile.

Then she got onto the Hover and took off with me—holding on for dear life again—towards the Resting Station.

When we reached I remained confused.

Both of us got off and she started to lead the Hover around the back and I couldn't not ask anymore.

"You're not going to say anything?" I asked.

She turned around, "I thought telling you now might hurt you. But it would seem that you finding out much later will hurt more. Guess what I chose to do?" She asked, throwing me another smirk and walked away with the Hover in tow.

I was left wondering just what I had in store for me. A part of me wanted to get back to the Station and go back to Ren. To where I knew that I was safe.

I knew that the moment I stepped into the Resting Station, I wouldn't be able to leave.

I wouldn't want to leave.

He'd pull me in and take me apart and I feel like I would watch the whole thing happen...I would let the whole thing happen.

______________________________________

My birthday gift to you! I love all you guys. ❤️ Hope you've had a good day.

Until next time, Unicorns. <3