Chapter 24

His head was still pounding and Ran almost turned around when he walked into the sitting room and was greeted by Simon’s smarmy grin. Unfortunately, he had to stay, Isla was poking at Niall’s ribs and stomach as he leaned and twisted away from her as she tried to steal his handkerchief.

“Would you knock it off?” Niall ground out as he held it over his head then grunted as she stomped on his foot then kicked his other shin. He bent to grab his leg and she snatched the handkerchief from his grasp.

“Well, well, well…” Isla sang as she skipped away from Niall and waved it triumphantly. “What do we have here?” She asked then turned toward the fireplace to inspect it and gasped loudly.

“Isla, don’t!” Niall begged as he reached for it but she jumped and used her other hand to hold him off.

“I don’t think we need to guess who R is, do we?” She asked as she looked at Ran accusatively and Simon clicked his teeth as he strolled closer.

“Really, Ran?” He said dramatically. “Your sister’s husband?” He accused and Niall dove for the handkerchief. Isla giggled as she danced away then tripped comedically toward the fireplace.

“Oops!” She cried as she flicked it at the flames.

“No!” Niall screamed and his fingers snatched it just as one of the butterfly’s wings caught and curled as it was eaten by fire.

“Oh, dear,” Simon murmured as he poured his wine on Niall’s arm, saturating his sleeve, nowhere near his hand.

“Everybody stop!” Ran roared and the footman at the door jumped. “Why do you have to be such a child, Isla?” He asked and Niall was furious.

“Why couldn’t you let me have that one thing?” He demanded as he pulled his jumper over his head and the air left Ran’s lungs and he grabbed the wall as the back of Niall’s shirt was pulled up. A wide, shiny scar spilled down his shoulder and along his spine and the room tilted around Ran.

“What is that?” Ran’s voice cracked as he pointed. He felt nauseous and disoriented as Isla gagged.

“Isn’t it gruesome? It’s always icked me out,” she said and Niall was grey as his eyes met Ran’s. The mask was gone and it was Niall riding him in the boathouse.

“Why?” Ran demanded as he stared at him and Niall was terrified as he shook his head.

“Please!” His eyes were wide and full of panic as he held up his hands pleadingly. “Not here,” he implored but Ran shook his head. He couldn’t stop seeing Niall as Icarus and Ran’s chest felt like it was being crushed. He had to get out and get away from them.

“I need my car,” he called as he waved at the door and backed away from Niall.

“You can’t go!” Niall cried as he followed but Ran shook his head quickly as he held him off.

“Don’t! Don’t come near me,” he ordered then tried to fill his lungs as his stomach tightened and dropped. “You were never going to tell me,” he realized and Niall froze.

“I couldn’t!” He hissed as he silently pleaded for Ran to stop but he was in too much pain.

“Why did you do this? All I’ve ever wanted was to love you as much as you’d let me. You had to know what this was doing to me. Were you laughing at me the entire time?” He asked as he searched Niall’s eyes but all Ran could see was fear and shame before he turned and hurried from the room.

“I swear, I never laughed!” Niall called as he went after him. He grabbed Ran’s arm but he pulled it free. “I had no choice!” He whispered and Ran covered his mouth to hold back a roar as he heard Icarus. “I’m so sorry! I had to do it, Ran!” He begged and Ran spun as his heart shattered.

“No, you didn’t!” He hissed back as he grabbed the front of Niall’s shirt and pulled him close so he could whisper in his ear. “You chose to betray me when you decided to do whatever this was instead of trusting me. Do you know how many nights I ached and how much of my soul I was willing to trade for our first kiss? I couldn’t even allow my mind to imagine what our first time would be like because I was afraid of how much it would hurt to want something that badly. But you took it all and kept it for yourself. You stole that from me,” he breathed then released him and Niall staggered back. Ran looked around and Simon and Isla were delighted as they watched from the sitting room and Pearson and Ms. Brundage were deeply concerned as they hovered in the shadows. “I’m going to London, have my things sent to Brown’s. I don’t know when I’m coming back,” Ran added as he went to the door. A footman waited with his coat and Ran’s Mercedes pulled into the courtyard as the front door was opened.

“Ran, don’t do this!” Niall cried but Ran ignored him as he pulled on his coat and jogged down the steps to his car. He didn’t look back, he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to face Niall again.