“I didn’t ask for any of this,” I say, giving no explanation beyond that.
“Are you so sure of that?” she asks.
“Does Aerix really seem like the type who would submit to anything I’d asked?” I scoff.
She glares at me again, which I take as admittance that I’m right.
“I’ve been here for years,” she says instead. “And no matter how many of Aerix’s girls filter in and out, he’s never acted like this before.”
“Like what?”
“Protective. Possessive. Obsessed.”
Her eyes grow more haunted with each word spoken.
“He’s not obsessed with me,” I argue, even though the events of this morning suggest otherwise. “He’s just...”
“Just what?” she challenges. “So captivated that he’ll kill anyone who threatens his claim on you? So enthralled that he’s changing his routines to spend more time with you?”
I think of this morning, when I asked Aerix to choose me over Victoria for breakfast, and I know she’s right. He’s not the type to bend to what we ask, but yet, he has for me, on multiple occasions.
I’m getting a pretty good idea by now about why that might be.
“Have you ever heard of someone named Kallista?” I ask, and given the way she tilts her head, she’s genuinely surprised by the sudden change of subject.
“No,” she says, her brow furrowing. “Why?”
I hold her gaze, realizing with each passing second that she’s truly clueless.
Interesting. Very, very interesting.
“No reason.” I shrug, although from the way she presses her lips together, I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
But apparently done conversing with me, Victoria turns her attention to the table next to us, where Nathanial—Princess Mirena’s sole human—sits by himself, as always.
I poke at the food on my plate, but after the events of today, I’m barely able to eat. The only reason I force myself to get a bit down is because I need my strength after losing blood this morning. Especially given that Aerix will likely call on me again for dinner.
I hope he does.
Because each minute I spend with him will be another chance I’ll have to soften him up so I can eventually get him to tell me more about Kallista, the Blood Coven, and the Revenants.
