Mica by Ronin Winters Read Free Book Online Page A

“Mica.”
    He held up a hand, everything about him now closed off and warning her away. “I’m fine.”
    Before her, he was a stranger, as he’d never been before, not even the first moment they’d met. “Tell me what’s going on.”
    “What did your eyes see?”
    What they saw and what had to be the truth was two different things, because what they saw was impossible.
    But it wasn’t impossible. If nothing else, the pure misery Micah projected told her that. The air of a man going to his own execution, and the final appeal had been denied.
    “What was that?”
    “It was a battle between enemies, part of something that started a long time ago.” He looked away, drawing in a deep breath, his body stiffening with resolve. “I’m sorry it touched you, Sophie. Please believe me that I never meant it to. I did everything I could to keep you away. I’ll pay to make sure your shop is repaired and back running as soon as possible-”
    “ Fuck the shop! Are you okay? You…killed…another being in there.”
    His eyes warmed for a fraction of a moment before going back to the previous indifference. “Believe me when I say he deserved to die, and I don’t feel a moment’s remorse that I was the one who caused it to happen.”
    “So what now?”
    “Now, it’s time for me to leave.”
    “What?” He couldn’t have said that. He couldn’t mean that. “Look, I don’t care what happened-”
    “It was a territorial dispute. Even in these modern times, it is common for my kind.”
    “Okay, still, that doesn’t mean you can leave me.”
    “You’ve seen what I am.” All the warmth she associated with him was gone, leaving behind this perfect warrior, someone who would dominate the battlefield, not letting any emotion touch him while he battled through the enemy ranks.
    “Yes, I see what you are. Which means that you’ve been it all the time I’ve known you. Why would I not care for you now just because another facet has been revealed?”
    Now emotion shown on his face, in his widened eyes and dazed expression. He never expected her to say those words, that much was apparent. She suspected they weren’t the first couple to have this conversation, many probably under similar circumstances, and she could see how it often might have gone the other way.
    But with how completely her heart was his, she would never be able to walk away from him. No, the only thing she wanted from this night was information on how she could fight back if this ever happened again. She never wanted to be standing on the sidelines again, waiting to see if he appeared alive.
    But the emotion from him was short-lived. He shook it off like a dog shaking water from its fur, and the expressionless warrior stood there once again. “I don’t care about you, not in any way that matters. Do you understand that?”
    Sophie stepped back like he slapped her. “That’s not true.”
    “You were a good fuck,” he pressed on, every line of his body looming over her, but for the first time she didn’t feel protected – she felt stifled. She felt used, and manipulated. “I wasn’t lying when I said you were the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. I hope you’ve enjoyed our time together as well. But I need to leave and I don’t want you around anymore.”
    With that, he turned and walked away, and her world crumbled around her.

Chapter Eight
     
     
    “Okay, we have chocolate, vanilla, or my personal favorite – fudge ripple. What flavor you want? And before you make any comments about eating junk food, let’s be real clear here – no one should be eating junk food. There’s no purpose to junk food. It’s empty filled calorie deliciousness. It’s the way all heartbreak is taken care of, so please don’t start about your weight.” Damn Jo for being so matter-of-fact while Sophie was laying there, greasy hair and misery stamped hard over her, with her metaphorical heart torn out.
    Jo was standing above her, hands on hips and mouth in a