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I frown when I get a clear look at his face. His eyes are dark, almost bottomless, his mouth is set in a line, and he seems…off.
Like that time during the fight.
He must be having one of his episodes. Though I’m not sure what type of episode it is, he mentioned they come and go. I haven’t seen him in this state since that night of the fight. Only, now, he seems more closed off.
And I want to…what?
What the fuck do you think you can do when you’re broken yourself?
Killian notices us, or more like spots Glyn and stops dancing. Mia and Nikolai do, too. My friend smiles at me. Nikolai scowls.
My nape burns and my skin starts to feel black, inky, and foreign.
It’s been a week since I last saw him, and while I didn’t expect a welcoming ceremony, I also didn’t think he’d look this displeased.
Glyn hugs Mia and hands her a bag. “It’s small gifts from the three of us. Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you. You didn’t have to,” she signs, then grins at me and types on her phone before she shows me. “I didn’t think you’d come.”
“You personally invited me. I wouldn’t miss it.” I smile, fighting the need to ogle her brother.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Nikolai shoves Mia behind him and gets in my face, his voice harsh, face closed off. If it weren’t for his familiar smell, though now mixed with cigarettes and alcohol, I’d think I was looking at a stranger.
Is this how he felt every time I pretended not to see him in public? Because it’s no different than having a fucking knife lodged between my ribs.
“Another elaborate plan from your brother? What is it this time? Arson? Assault? Murder, maybe?” The coldness behind his words leaves me speechless.
Nikolai never speaks to me in that tone. He neversnapsat me.
And the fact that he’s done it twice now makes the grim possibility of losing him a terrifying reality.
But you know what? Fuck him.
Why the hell is he angry when he ghosted me for a whole week?
“Bran is my friend. I invited him to my birthday,” his sister signs, her movements smooth and determined.
“It’s okay, Mia,” I tell her and keep glaring at him. “I couldn’t care less about your brother’s opinion of me, but it’s probably better that I leave.”
She shakes her head frantically.
“Mia is right,” Jeremy says somewhere behind me. “You’re our guest.”
Killian clutches Nikolai’s shoulder. “If you can accept Glyn and Cecily, you’ll have to accept Bran, too. He has nothing to do with Lan, despite the creepy physical resemblance.”
“He’s right.” Glyn looks at me with an encouraging smile. “Bran is completely different from Lan. I promise.”
Jesus. She sounds like she’s selling me for some position.
Nikolai’s eyes never leave my face, and I can’t help staring back. While I don’t really like the anger, I like that he can’t look away from me.
It’s the least he can do after disappearing on me as if I’m nothing.
Mia jumps in front of him and signs, “Please don’t ruin my birthday.”
Nikolai flashes me one last glare before he releases a throaty sound and snatches his pack of cigarettes from the table.
My frown deepens. Things aren’t good if he’s smoking. He told me he’s a mood smoker and only resorts to them when the chaos in his head is too massive to contain.
