AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 7
Harmonia
The warm water cocoons my body as I blow at the bubbles floating on top. Since Talon practically brought me to my knees, I’ve hidden away in the only place I could think of that didn’t feel like trespassing. It doesn’t matter that I had only just showered before he made his appearance, not when it gives me an excuse to soak in here. The water comes up to my shoulders as I rest my head back against the cushioned rim and sigh.
Talon.Fucking, Talon.
I’ve never felt so hot and ready to combust in all my life. Not once. And somehow, it turns out to be just a game to him. Nothing more, nothing less. And that hurts far more than I care to admit. He’s playing with me. Knowing full well how I used to feel about them back then, and now… my body clearly hasn’t changed its opinion, even if they are being a total bag of dicks.
Taking a deep breath, my eyes flutter closed, but as soon as I start to relax, a knock sounds at the door, disturbing my moment of solitude. If that’s Talon coming back to play with me some more, then he can get lost. But the voice that calls my name isn’t his.
“Harmonia? Are you in there?” The knocking continues as Malik calls out my name again. I’m still gaping at the door in surprise when it blasts open, my brain thankfully awake enough to put my arm over my chest to protect my dignity.
“What the fuck, Malik?” I blurt when my gaze meets his wide green eyes. One hand is frozen on the doorknob while the other is braced against the doorframe. He’s in head to toe black again, unchanged from this morning, but the dark circles around his eyes seem deeper than they did then and I can’t help but feel like part of that is my fault.
“I've been calling your name for five minutes,” he grunts, finally finding his own tongue to respond as he remains in the exact same spot at the door.
“Well I was obviously a little busy and I didn’t hear you, but you also didn’t give me much chance to respond either.” I quirk a brow at him, begging him to challenge me, even in my current naked state, but he doesn’t take the bait. In fact, he does nothing at all. Except stare at me. “You can leave now,” I mumble, my voice low as I tighten my arms around my chest. I almost think he doesn’t hear me, but he eventually takes a step back.
“Dinner is ready. You have two minutes.”
He’s gone before I can utter a word in response, the door not fully closing behind him, and I’m left staring at the spot he’d occupied moments ago.
He doesn’t give me a chance to grumble that I’m not hungry, or that I don’t want to join them, or any other excuse I could come up with. He seems to think he can give me an order and I’ll fall into line, unquestioning. Another stark reminder that I really don’t have a choice or say in the situation here.
I consider defying him, enjoying the lingering warmth that coats my skin, but in reality, intrigue, as always, gets the better of me. After running the body wash over my skin, I stand, draining the bath before drying off with a towel.
Thankfully, I have my own clothes now, freshly washed and dried. A part of me would like to remain in Malik’s t-shirt, but I think better of it.
I’m halfway down the stairs when I realize I’ve used one of Malik’s socks to tie my hair off my face in a messy bun. Well, I had snipped the top off one, creating the perfect hair tie, but I quickly pull it loose, letting my long white hair fall down my back. I should be embarrassed Malik saw me like that, but I'm not. Especially when he basically invited himself in.
My steps slow as I reach the bottom of the stairs, seriously considering boycotting the imposed dinner, but I don’t have anywhere else to go. It’s that fact alone that has me waltzing into the living space with my head held high and determination in every swing of my arms.
I’m surprised to find the three of them sitting at the actual dining table and not the breakfast bar this time. Four chairs sit around the rectangular oak table, and three of those spots are already taken, leaving me no option but to sit in the one beside Talon.
His gaze remains on the plate before him, not glancing to his right to acknowledge my arrival, and I’m slightly relieved. After earlier, with his hot and cold behavior, I didn’t know how I was going to navigate around him. Silence I can handle. It’s all I’ve had from them since they didn’t push back at my choice of words six years ago.
Adjusting my seat, I look across the table to find Malik looking at me with a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Like he didn’t expect me to follow him downstairs, but here I am. Alexi, on the other hand, has the top two buttons of his white shirt undone and the long sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
It’s a hot look, it's a pity that the glare he’s aiming in my direction doesn’t complete the style very well. I mean, it does, but I’d just rather he wasn’t glaring daggers at me.
Malik doesn’t say a word as he snaps his fingers, producing four steaming plates of beef casserole and a plate filled high with bread rolls. I inadvertently lick my lips as I take in the feast before me.
I’m not one to cautiously wait for someone else to start eating first. I have no table manners like that, I just wasn’t born that way. So, without looking at any of them, I grab the spoon to my left and dig in, sensing the three of them doing the same. No one speaks though and the only sound that can be heard around the table is that of spoons scraping along the bowls.
When my stomach is full and my body can’t take anymore, I lean back in my seat and break the silence with the question that has been plaguing my mind all day. We may have talked this morning before Alexi stormed off, but that just wasn’t good enough for me.
“Am I going to be kept as a prisoner here forever?” I question if I should have used a softer tone, made myself seem more meek and submissive so it might encourage them to go easier on me, but that would be a whole heap of bullshit. Besides, I’m a shit actor.
I look at the three of them, each of them now giving me their attention. Of course, it’s Alexi who answers me. “Maybe.”
His blunt tone is challenging as I peer into his eyes, but this man gives nothing away. Is he just as I remember? Or is he harsher now? Once upon a time I would have basked in his presence with utter joy, regardless of the mood I might find him in. But now… I think it stings too much for me to stand tall and take it, whatever the circumstances.
Shaking my head, I twist my lips. “No.”
His head tilts back as surprise washes over his features, the slight loosening of his tense jaw giving away the fact that I’ve caught the asshole off guard.
“No?”
