Irial stiffened as she spoke to him like that. Surely she wouldn't have done in the past. This must have been because of Travis. He did not look at her, nor did he reply to anything that she said. He'd been gone, and that was that. There was nothing either of them could do to change it. No point in dwelling over the fact.

But Travis...both of them betrayed him. And she, Caitlin, even though she said she loved Irial with all her heart, she still ran to Travis's arms when Irial was gone. Just the thought of the two of them together made his blood curdle.

Taking a deep breath, Irial reined in his temper and exhaled slowly. There was no reason to blow up. Both were too hotheaded to back down, and it would be a neverending argument. So Irial decided to step up and be a man and not fight, like he yearned to do.

"Tell me what you want, Caitlin," he said suddenly, after minutes of silence. He did not turn to her, did not want to look at her. His voice was quiet, broken. "If you want me to leave you so you can be with...him, tell me now." He took another deep breath.

"I do not want someone who is in love with another person. Especially if that person is my best friend."