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“Don’t tell me how to run my kingdom,” Julian roars. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
I’ve never heard Julian sound so menacing, especially toward Law. They’ve always appeared to have a strong bond, but in this moment, I fear for the youngest Bellamy. My ear stays firmly against the wooden door, trying to get to the bottom of this conversation. What has Julian done that has Law up in arms?
“No. You didn’t.” Law’s voice is soft when he says it. It’s as though he sympathizes with Julian. “But it’s yours just the same. I’m only trying to help you see your errors. Nobody checked our father, and look where that got him.”
“Don’t bring him into this, Lawrence. I’m not him.”
“No, you’re not. So stop acting like him.”
Without thinking, I turn the knob and open the door, stepping inside, with the hopes I can prevent an all-out brawl.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, taking in the heated glares that both Bellamy brothers wear.
“Marina,” Julian says, jumping to his feet. “I was just coming for you.”
“Is everything all right?” I try again, my eyes searching back and forth between Julian and Law. Julian comes to me, placing his palm over my cheek. I lean into him.
“Everything’s fine,” he assures me. “We’re just discussing our next moves.”
I nod slowly, considering his words, but I know he’s hiding something. Law’s stony features point to that fact. My eyes pierce Law’s, silently urging him to speak up. Instead, he offers a tight-lipped smile.
He’s not getting off that easily. We’ve bonded during our time together, and if he knows something about Julian’s current state of mind, he’s going to tell me.
“Law,” I press, leveling him with my bestdon’t even try to cover for himexpression.
“Everything’s fine. It’s not my place to say,” he says, leveling Julian with another glare. “You two have a lot to talk about.”
I don’t miss the threat in those words. My entire body tenses, growing all too nervous about what’s going on.
Julian grabs my hand and walks me out without another glance toward Law.
“Are you going to tell me what that was about?” I ask, jerking my head back toward the study we just left.
“Law’s trying to concern himself with matters I didn’t ask for his opinion on.”
“Okayyyy. That’s not really answering my question.”
Julian stops, turning toward me. “I haven’t seen you in a week. I’ve been dealing with new bites day in and day out. I’m exhausted,” he rasps, running a hand roughly through his hair. “I don’t want to talk about Law’s issues. Understood?”
The bite in his words has me pausing. He’s never spoken to me like this. Like I’m one of his underlings. I don’t like it.
“I understand that you’re under a lot of pressure, Julian, but if you’re going to speak to me like that, perhaps it’s best if you go cool down.”
His stern glare softens, and he pulls me into his chest. “I’m sorry, Marina. You’re right, I shouldn’t take my frustrations out on you.” He pulls away, looking down into my eyes. “Can we go to your room for some privacy?”
I smile and nod, but I can’t help the dread settling into my stomach as we walk back toward my room.
Julian sprawls out on top of the bed and I crawl up into his firm embrace, inhaling deeply, basking in the scent that I’ve come to know as purely Julian Bellamy. Here in his arms, I’m almost able to forget the heated discussion I overheard. I want desperately to just enjoy having him at my side.
I lean up, placing my lips to his, but everything about Julian is rigid and hard. He doesn’t relax into my kiss, and it does nothing but make me even more self-conscious. What’s going on in that head of his, I wonder, unable to read his mind. Apparently, our shared powers have a lifespan.
I decide to try a little harder, needing to be with Julian in a way we’ve only experienced once. I want him to make love to me. I need to feel that deep connection to him, if only to assure myself that everything is okay.That’s a bad idea.
I push down the errant thought and run my hands up the side of Julian’s shirt, lifting it, but his hands clamp down on top of mine, pulling the shirt back into place. An icy chill settles over me.
Something is definitely wrong.
All the insecurities I carry flood to the surface and I’m moments away from a panic attack. It’s been forever since I’ve felt this out of control. I have gotten so good at schooling my emotions and controlling my outward actions so that others would believe I was rehabilitated. But ever since being kidnapped and placed in that cell at the auction, all of the carefully constructed walls I’ve erected through the years—to protect myself—have crumbled, leaving me a pathetic, whiny little girl, and I hate it.
