Page 86 of Blood Oath
The woman splutters and looks at me accusingly. “Don’t think I don’t know how you monster groups work! You must be the whore they keep as a plaything. Get them out of here before they cause real problems, or else.”
The snarl that rips out of Baelfire’s throat is so threatening that she drops the orchid and steps back. Silas gives her a chilling stare-down while Crypt flickers and disappears, making her yelp.
This whole situation is oddly amusing to me. “Or else what?”
The woman blinks at me. “What?”
“You were trying to threaten us. At least make it creative. Maybe something like or else you’ll take that spade and shovel out our innards to fertilize the greenhouse,” I suggest helpfully.
Baelfire makes a choking sound. Silas laughs darkly.
The woman turns a delightful purple shade as she steps back. “Ugh. Get the hell out of here, you fucked-up little freak, before I call the bounty hunters to come check if you’re legal!”
“Since you asked so nicely,” I shrug, turning to leave.
As soon as we’re outside, Baelfire snaps, “I know we’re not supposed to harm humans, but that bitch was begging to be roasted.”
“Her neck looked extremely breakable,” Silas agrees in a low tone.
Everett looks between them like they’ve grown extra heads. “What the hell is wrong with you two?”
I can’t help it. I laugh.
Baelfire gawks at me. “Did you just…fucking giggle? I can’t tell if that’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard or if I should be worried about your sense of humor.”
“Why can’t it be both?”
Uh oh. Was that flirtatious? It felt flirtatious. Being like this with them, not bothering to hide my expressions or contain myself, is unnervingly easy. A broad smile spreads over Bael’s face, and I scold myself for the way it warms my neck.
“Gods, I can’t get enough of you. Come on, Boo. I saw a hot chocolate stand with your name on it.”
The rest of our hours-long tour of Hope Falls is uneventful, aside from the fact that Crypt reappeared later to hand me an entire bouquet of orchids that he most certainly took from the greenhouse out of spite.
The more time I spend with my four rejected matches, the more I can’t stop thinking about that scene in my dream last night. The ease between us. The…comfort.
That’s not for you. Snap out of it.
But even if I can’t have that long-term, maybe Kenzie is right. Maybe I can enjoy myself with them just for this one day without causing trouble. I won’t let them get in the way of my oath and my mission. Besides, I won’t be at Everbound much longer, anyway—and the thought of never seeing them again makes me feel an emotion I’ve never experienced before.
I’ll never get that dream I had in real life. But I have a couple more hours of pretending I could.
A few hours later as we drive back, Silas observes me from the passenger seat as we approach the inn. Everett has been silent in the back. He’s said nothing to me all day.
“You’re deep in thought. I have a question for you,” Silas says.
“I probably don’t have an answer.”
“Do you agree with the woman in the greenhouse?”
I arch a brow but keep my eyes on the road. “About me being a fucked-up freak? Of course.”
Everett scowls viciously behind us, and suddenly, the car’s interior is frigid. “She said what?”
Silas ignores his confusing outburst. “No. About keepers being playthings. You come from a human background, so I understand if the dynamics of quintets are…opposite your beliefs. You’re clearly not keen on the fact that we’re a quintet.”
“We’re not. I rejected all of you.”
It’s like talking to a wall for all the reaction they have to that. Anytime I bring up my rejection of them, they ignore it. Fucking cocky high-profile legacies.
