“She’s in love with him,” James raged at Tristan.
He didn’t even flinch. “I know, mate. I know.”
He violently ran his hands through his hair and started pacing up and down the grass. “I mean…How? I don’t get it.”
Tristan raised his eyebrows. “None of us get it. Well Isabella and Madison, but they’re the only ones.”
James stopped mid pace and turned flashing eyes on him. “What do you mean they get it.”
“Well, it seems that while we were away Isabella connected with Ally and felt what they were feeling. And Madison, she didn’t even know you existed. All she saw was Ally and how much Vincent had changed. She’s an empath too don’t forget. She could feel what they felt.”
“Ergh,” James grumbled. “I know she lost her memory of me. I can forgive that she felt herself having feelings for someone when she didn’t even know that I existed, but HIM!”
“You’re a better man than me, James. I admit that I’d find it pretty hard to get past that kind of betrayal.”
James snorted inelegantly. “I always thought that too. But the truth is you never know what your reaction will be to something until it happens to you.”
“Hit me.” Tristan commanded.
“What?!” James bellowed.
“HIT ME.”
“You’re supposed to be helping me.”
“I am,” Tristan said with his fists raised. “You can’t hit him ‘cause he isn’t here so hit me.”
Some of the fire left James. “I don’t want to hit you, Tris. You’ve been there for me this whole time.”
“I still am.” His eyes narrowed. “Shame your soulmate isn’t though. And what kind of soulmate is she that she hooks up with the first guy she encounters? And let’s not forget that guy happens to be your biological daddy whether they knew it or not.”
The sound of flesh cracking bone reverberated through the landscape. Tristan stepped back with the force of the blow. Despite the pain, the corners of his mouth turned up. “Is that the best you got.” He challenged.
“Nope.” He landed another blow, this one to his stomach. Tristan doubled over. “Don’t ever speak of her like that again.”
“Talk about betrayal! I wonder how far things went before we found them.” Another sickening crunch.
“You’re not giving me all you’ve got, James. Stop hitting like a girl so I won’t feel bad kicking your arse.” James flew at him. The pair landed with a thud. Fists flying, the continued pounding each other. Tristan detangled himself and stood up. He held his hands up. “Feel better?”
James sent a glare that would have turned a mere mortal to stone. “You baited me?” He raged.
“Yep. Feel better now don’t you.”
James let out a humourless laugh. “I do as a matter of fact.”
“Told you I was still here for you.” He held his hand out and pulled James to his feet. “Just needed the right sort of motivation to get you to hit me.”
James sent him another glare.
“Woah,” he threw his hands up again in mock surrender. “I didn’t mean a word of that. I was just saying what I had to, to get under your skin. You know I love Ally.” He then hastily added. “In the friend way.”
James sighed. “I know. The truth is I couldn’t help but have those thoughts myself.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. You may not be human as such, but no-one is perfect.”
“How do we get past this?”
“There aren’t any easy answers to that question, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work and time on both parts. If the two of you really love each other, like I think you do, then you’ll be able to move through this. Who knows you might even be stronger for it.”
“I hope you’re right, Tristan. I really do.”
“Come on, let’s go back and get cleaned up before the girls see us and Kat tells me off for fighting with you.”
“Women,” he muttered.
“I hear ya, buddy. I hear ya.” Tristan grinned. “Come on, race you back!”
He was a blur. James shook his head and took off after him. Damned if he’d let him win. Tristan would hold it over his head forever. Literally.