?“Well,” I grumble, “if five particular celestials would like to explain to me some things about certain family members of theirs and answer some simple questions then maybe I would be more open to conversation. It’s called communication.”
?“Says the one giving us the silent treatment.”
?I whip my head up so fast and level one of my signature glares at him. “Says the one who did it first. Who wanted to punish me for no fucking reason – “
?“No reason,” he growls. “How would you feel if I went and slept with – “
?“It’s fucking different!”
?“HOW!?”
?“HE’S MINE!”
?I squeeze my eyes shut and inhale deeply before holding. My heart strains with wanting to pound and it just makes everything else inside feel cataclysmic.
?I blow out the breath and open my eyes to another silent room. In my peripheral I see Jullia and Asher. They slowly begin rounding the table to sit on Hanna’s side with Ricka and the shifter. Callahan in front of me is baring his soul to me, my own soul pulling to cement the bond like I have with Varian.
?I still don’t know how that works since he hasn’t seen my soul.
?“There are five ties within me, connected to five fated, and Iknowhe is the fifth.Heknows he’s the fifth. Fate has just not clicked for us yet.” His anger disperses and his face drops. Quieter, I say, “None of you listen. You all are so entitled thinking because of who you are and fate that I’m required to lay myself open. Nothing I have done was ever with the intent to hurt any of you, but you are not entitled to know my every secret. I have told you time and time again to stay out of my business. You refuse to listen, and then blame me because you don’t understand.”
?I make to stand up, deciding I’d rather starve than be here when a heavy arm lays across my shoulders and pushes me back into my seat.
?On my right side Thorne sits and pulls the tray Callahan brought closer to me. A juicy fillet of salmon with some sort of lemon butter seasoning and asparagus – or what look like asparagus – sit on the tray. There’s also a mound of charred broccoli in the same seasoning and a side of white rice.
?“Eat,” is the only thing he says as everyone opposite of us is staring at me, Callahan, and Thorne.
?I look up to his red eyes and they soften as his fingers stroke my arm. His arm is still draped over my shoulders and he doesn’t seem like he has a plan to move.
?“I’m not hungry.”
?His eyes narrow the slightest bit. “You are a very clever word-weaver, Mavyllora, but you are a shit liar.”
?Those things flutter in my stomach. What are they called. . . ? Butterflies?
?He takes his free hand to pick up the fork and stabs a piece of salmon. Then he brings it up to my mouth and waits.
?My heart wants to trip and my lungs squeeze as I force the organ to not miss a beat.
?“I – “ My eyes widen as he shoves the fork into my open mouth, cutting me off from saying I can feed myself.
?What the literal fuck.
?He stabs a piece of broccoli now and holds it up to my mouth before I snatch the fork from him. Not chewing, I swallow the piece of fish and turn away from both ofthem. Facing Hanna and Ricka who are staring at us with their mouths hung open.
?Jullia meets my eye and widens her own while trying to hide her smile. It’s a losing battle when she opens her mouth a little to mouth something.
?. . . alan minds?
?Asher shifts closer to Jullia and tightens his own hold on her. The shifter does the same to Ricka, though his arm might be on her shoulders, his hand is stroking Hanna.
?Curious.
?My stomach flexes as Thorne leans closer and his lips trace against my ear. “Chew your food, Mavyn. Wouldn’t want you to choke.”
?For absolutely no reason whatsoever, something lower than my stomach clenches. The strain on my body from forcing control wavers.
?“Now finish your food. We have somewhere to be after this.”
