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Neanderthal.
Yourneanderthal. Don’t you forget that.
11
THE NEW RESISTANCE
Sariel
Ihad never been a jealous person.
Whether that was due to the fact that I’d been afforded anything I’d wanted as I child—even when I didn’t ask—because Lucy could read me like an open book, or because I’d never really wanted anything the way I wanted Aria, was entirely up to other people to psychoanalyze.
However, every time Neo turned to speak to Aria, I felt my angel creep a little closer to the edge of its patience. He was not at all happy with the amount of attention he was giving her, and it really didn’t help that she hadn’t seemed to notice the way he sulked over her reciprocating Neo’s attention.
I had to remind my angel that she was literally laying against me, her head on my shoulder, her arms wrapped around one of mine, and all snuggled into me with her legs folded up next to her on the seat.
I wanted to chalk the irritation up to us having been separated during my torture, and her having specifically been locked up withhimwhile he’d been possessed by a fucking Archdemon. I mean, seriously? What angel worth their salt didn’t know how to protect themselves against possession?
Granted, Barimuz seemed to have some rank above other Archdemons if he could sit on the Council as a representative of Lucifer himself. But I was sure there was more to it than that.
“You two look cozy,” Johnny said, eyeing Aria and I. “Last I saw, you were either at each other’s throat and pretending to hide your attraction to each other. What changed?”
“Besides the near-death experience, you mean?” I asked dryly. Aria squirmed; I glared at Johnny for making her uncomfortable. “Just because we know whyyoudid what you did doesn’t mean you can make jokes about now.”
“You two hated each other?” Neo asked, his interest piqued.
I wanted to reach out and squish his head to a pulp in my hand.
I had to shake my head to clear the violence out of my thoughts. Christ Almighty, I felt like I was losing my mind more and more with every passing hour, becoming more bloodthirsty with every moment I didn’t claim Aria.
I suddenly blanched at the thought.
What the fuck?Claimher? Like I was an animal, and she was something to be owned?
I didn’t like that train of thought, nor that comparison.
I wasn’t sure what Neo saw on my face, but it made his smirk widen. His eyes fell once more upon Aria, who was explaining what happened.
Just like before, she conveniently managed to avoid admitting that we were fated mates, as if Johnny wasn’t the first to guess and Marilyn wouldn’t know of his suspicions. I couldn’t tell you what possessed me to say what I said next, but the words came tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
“We’re soulmates.”
Neo stared at me blankly, like he didn’t know why I felt the need to say that. I’d totally forgotten that Aria had already told this guy.
“You’re what?” Reese asked.
“Soulmates? Fated mates?” I urged. “Meant to bequite literallythe better half of my soul, and the whole works?”
“Huh,” she said, eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. “Does everyone have a soulmate?”
“I really hope not, sugar. I’m not sure the person meant for me would know where to even start with me,” Neo laughed. “Besides, it sounds a lot like you have no say in who you spend the rest of your life with.”
“I mean, technically, the reason you have a soulmate is because the universe knows what you need better than you do,” Reese mused. “According to mythology and stuff, I mean.”
Neo turned to stare at the side of her face. “Reese, I can assure you that the universe doesn’t know a single damn thing about what I need.”
Reeese blushed scarlet. I narrowed my eyes at Neo in what I hoped was warning enough—I couldn’t have him upsetting our driver, who was also someone I was ultimately indebted to for what she’d done for Aria while I’d been helpless to save her.
