Mated - Chapter 219: Chapter 219

To My Obsessive Stepbrother
“I see it in your eyes. I feel it every time you breathe my name, like you’re trying not to. And I know you’ll admit it one day.”
His thumb slowly brushed my cheek again, like he was memorizing me.
“That’s why I’m patient with you.”
My lips parted, but nothing came out.
Because how do you speak when someone is looking at you like you’re all they’ve ever wanted? How do you breathe when the person you tried so hard to keep out has already taken root beneath your skin?
He was everywhere.
In my chest. In my thoughts. In the ache between my ribs.
His thumb kept tracing slow, agonizing lines across my cheek like he was trying to soothe something inside me–something he didn’t realize he was the one tearing open.
“I’m patient with you, little sister,” he whispered again.
It almost broke me.
I hated how my body responded. How my chest tightened, my throat ached and my lips nearly parted to say the words he had always wanted to hear me say.
But I couldn’t.
This… us… it was always meant to fall apart. From the beginning, it was doomed. And the longer I let him in, the harder it would be to crawl out of the wreckage.
So I took in a shaky breath, reached up, and gently pulled his hand away from my face.
His brows drew together. “Kasmine-?”
“I could never love you,” I said flatly.
A lie.
It tasted like ash in my mouth.
His eyes darkened, and I saw the flare of hurt flash across his face.
“Don’t,” he said softly, dangerously. “Don’t say that.”
But I didn’t stop.
“I’m being realistic, Kester. You should try it sometime.” I forced my arms to cross over my chest again as if that could hold everything in. “In days, I’ll find my mate. Or maybe I’ll end up with my betrothed. Either way, this thing between us–it ends.”
“So.” He stepped forward again, jaw clenching. “No, you don’t get to stand there and—”
“Yes, I do!” I snapped, my voice cracking like thin ice under pressure. “I have to. Because if I don’t… I’ll… I’ll…”
I swallowed the