Sterre had not quite known what to expect from Het Vuur’s response, but it was certainly something very different from what she got. Her ears swung backwards instantly, vanishing into the inky waves of her mane as she tossed her head in anger.

Was he really so self-centered? Had he always thought her a liar? Only one that he could see through – so long as he had his eyes to see the evidence for himself, of course. Sterre’s temper had always been quick and hot, and the mere thought set her blood boiling.

How dare he.

Her lips were twisted into a grimace, parted as though she were about to speak, but no words came. It was only on very rare occasions that Sterre was speechless, but then this was not exactly a common situation for her to be in.

He turned his back on her. He turned his back on Sterre. Had his blindness made him stupid, too? She snorted, fully prepared to go after him with both teeth and words, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.

It’s someone else’s, isn’t it?

Sterre felt sick. The words were cutting, and he knew it. When they fought the knives were sharp and the blows often below the belt, but this accusation was new. He had never accused her of being unfaithful to him before.

If there were such a thing as seeing red, the world was painted crimson for Sterre in that moment. If she thought she was angry before, that was nothing compared to the rage that washed over her now.

How dare he.

With a snarl she rounded on Het Vuur, coming alongside him, teeth bared. She lunged for him, snapping viciously at his neck and face as she thrust her weight against him. He might he blind and old, but that did not mean that he could get away without reprimand. She didn’t care if she hurt him or that he was at a disadvantage when it came to defending himself – he deserved it.

Somehow, however, she resisted the urge to go after him again and retreated after her first attack.

“Fuck you,” she spat, stepping back from him. Her voice was sharp and bitter, more venomous than ever.

Sterre shook her head, as if in disbelief, and let out a short laugh. The sound was choked, hysterical in its falsity. She wondered if she had transcended normal levels of fury and passed into some kind of otherworldly state where she seemed almost calm and controlled once again. Perhaps she was delirious.

“I could have anyone,” she began, speaking slowly as she enunciated every word with deadly precision. “Anyone. But I chose you, so maybe I am the blind one.”

She paused a moment, tossing her forelock out of her dark eyes with a snort. She looked at him with disgust, though the expression was wasted on him.

“It’s yours,” she sneered. “But oh how I wish it wasn’t.”

this thing of darkness
I ACKNOWLEDGE MINE