Page 64 of Glutton for Punishment

“Power that isn’t used is a waste,” Kael mutters from somewhere down the table, barely sparing me a glance. “Why are we talking about this?”

Thank you, scary looking man who hates me for changing the subject. I’ll ask the Universe to delay your bread roll choking for another day.

I go back to my dinner and thankfully Kael continues to steal all the air in the room, retelling, in great bloody detail, his latest underground fight.

The conversation shifts through dinner, but I remain under the radar. The pressure never leaves. I don’t look up at Maddox again; I can’t bear to risk it and see the disappointment on his face at my slip up. Fists and fighting, that’s what I know. Not this word game bullshit.

I’m so focused on eating my peas one by one I don’t notice when Maddox slides up behind my chair.

“We are retiring for the evening.” Maddox says with a tone of finality.

They all respond with silence, besides two disappointed groans from Wicka and Vex. Considering one wants to sleep with me and one wants to study my insides, I’m not considering that a win.

***

Maddox’s fist goes through the wall.

I look away from the outburst only for my eyes to land on the remains of the broken bed.

I am really doing a number on this room…

He didn’t speak the entire way back. He just grabbed my hand and booked it back to his bedroom. Apparently the walls can’t even be trusted here.

“I’m sorry, Arwen,” he says, facing me. He looks wrecked.

“Look, you don’t have to punch a wall. I’m sorry…” I start before he interrupts.

“Don’t. Don’t apologize. You didn’t ask to have dinner with the most fucked up people in Vail. You held your own and did perfectly.”

I sit on the couch, face in my hands, and groan.

“Well, maybe you didn’t hear, but I slipped up. Paris asked about being powerless, and I said, ‘I felt’. Past tense Maddox.”

“I said they were evil; I didn’t say they were smart.” He responds.

Faking a laugh, I shake my head. “Someone caught it. I know it. Paris, or Amaya. Riven. Your father!”

“Don’t even think about them, Arwen. They don’t deserve to be in your head. They’re my responsibility. You met them. You did your part.”

I sigh; that’s easier said than done.

“By the way… if you were feeling all that,” I say, pointing at the new hole in the wall. “Your control is phenomenal.”

His eyes heat as he focuses in on me.

“You have no idea.” He replies. The intensity sends a needy ache through my body down to my lower stomach.

Shaking myself out of it quickly, I turn toward the exit. “I better head back to my room.”

“I’ll walk you back. You’re not sleeping alone with all of them under one roof.”

Panic hits me. Although I’m attracted to him, I’m still trying to process and figure out what the bond is influencing and my feelings from before.

“I… I don’t think I’m ready for..”

“Relax,” he replies softly. “I’ll be outside your door. It’s just for tonight, and hopefully, we can get out of this hellhole tomorrow.”

Chapter 19