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It was one thing to assume how powerful she was, but another thing entirely to have proof.
7
THE UPPER COUNCIL
Aria
The matter of the lone guest room arose as a distraction from the tension created by the discussion of my—apparently very overpowered—wolf. Sariel graciously sacrificed the bed and agreed to take the couch, though Johnny did suggest that he wouldn’t mind sharing with either of us.
I immediately declined.
There was nothing wrong with Johnny, really. He was a great host, quite refreshing after spending hours in a car with Silent Sariel, who hadn’t even turned the radio on as we’d driven. But… no.
I was seated on Johnny’s overstuffed couch when Sariel stepped into the room, his shorts riding low on his hips and his shirt lifted enough for me to get a peek of his red happy trail.
My favorite episode of Criminal Minds was playing on the large flat-screen TV, and Sariel hummed as Reid Spencer monologued. He sprawled out next to me so much, he madethe giant couch feel tiny. I tugged the blanket over my legs and cuddled up in the corner to make myself smaller.
I could still feel his body heat in the space between where my toes rested and his hands.
I pretended not to notice how he glanced at me every few seconds, how his hair glowed in the dim light, or how my heart threatened to beat out of my chest at every single shift or breath he made or took. I didn’t know what was happening, but all of a sudden, I was sweating beneath the blanket, my nerves making me tremble as I struggled to focus on what was happening.
“Listen,” Sariel started, and I yelped at the unexpected sound of his voice, deep and slightly drowsy from exhaustion. Oh God, I was technically in his bed. “Are you ready to turn in? I think there’s a TV in the bedroo—”
I moved to stand, and he reached for me, halting me in my tracks when warm hands enveloped my wrist. The contact was like a brand on my flesh, searing me at the contact. Nerves I didn’t realize I could feel in my hands came to life.
“That’s not— no,” he sighed. “I wanted to…”
He swallowed. For a brief moment, I was mesmerized by the simple motion of his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. “I wanted to check on you. You seemed surprised when Johnny told you about the black market…”
I didn’t hear a single thing after that. Did he thinkhecould try to comfort me?
Hot rage licked up my insides at his audacity. That he felt he could comfort me after he was the catalyst for this in the first place wasasinineto me, that he didn’t realizehewas why I’d had to escape.
My little bubble of happiness made me violent. I dragged my hand out of his grasp.
“Are you fucking with me?” I asked incredulously. “You got me here! Do you understand that, Sariel? You couldn’t leave methe fuck alone, and you drew attention to me.Youare the reason I’m here!”
He had the gall look contrite. Contrite! Not even devastated or apologetic!
“Aria, if I had known—”
“If you had knownwhat, Sariel?” I asked, dropping the blanket onto the floor and propping my hands on my hips. “You’d have treated me like a real fucking person, not ‘trash’?”
His expression morphed right before my eyes. “You know what? I almost forgot that you were half a bloody fucking monster. If you think I want to be around you any more than you want to be around me, you’re sorely mistaken.”
I jerked back like he’d slapped me. “Then turn me in to the Upper Council, Sariel! If I’m half a ‘monster,’ turn me in.”
He didn't respond. Instead, he rose, and I once again thanked whatever powerful being created me for giving me this height. He could never tower over me, no matter how hard he might want to make me feel small.
“The only reason I’m not turning you in is that I know what the Upper Council would do to you,” he said.
Then he stormed out of the room, leaving me with those haunting words to think about.
Johnny stepped into the room and found me cuddled on the couch, staring blankly at the TV. Nothing was playing, but the light was comforting.
He took one of the armchairs and settled in it sideways with his feet hanging over the arm.
“Normally, I’d apologize for my bestie, but he’s being an outright dick, so I think…” he paused, and I heard the sound of clothing rustling as he shifted around, “…I will leave the apologizing andpotentialgroveling to future-him.”
