Chapter 22: Jealousy Does Not Exist

“Valen!”

He’d barely shut the door behind him before I was standing in front of him. Yesterday, I’d thought about how I hadn't minded him avoiding me, but now that I was this close to him again, I realized that I had missed him.

“Why are you awake so early?” he asked, frowning down at me.

“Waiting for you, silly.”

It was partly true. I had no idea or expectation that he’d show up, but I had wanted to see him and tell him about Bethany. But mostly, after following Bethany back to the house, I hadn’t been able to go back to bed, despite how tired I was.

“Why?”

“I wanted to—” I leaned in closer and sniffed at his shirt, my nose wrinkling in confusion.

He stepped back. “What are you—?”

“Why do you smell like that?” I interrupted.

I frowned up at him while I tried to place the scent. It was familiar. Like amber…

“Why do you smell like Rowena?”

***

By the time my body materialized at Ezra’s house, instead of dissipating, my anger had steeped, simmered, and festered.