Page 88 of Bound by Vengeance
“Yes, Abigail,” Vicky interjected. “Theelders will soon choose the perfect, virginal bride for Nathan.Though why anyone would want to marry someone without testing thegoods first, is beyond me.”
Nathan dropped his head into his hand andrubbed his forehead to ease the hammering that started there hoursago. Duncan and Brian both snickered before discreetly coughinginto their hands. Asher wasn’t as discreet as he laughed loudly,and Logan muttered an agreement.
“You must be looking forward to marriage,”Abby said to Nathan, as if Vicky had never spoken.
“Yes, because all men want a wife who willcook, clean, rub their feet, say yes to their every whim, and neverspeak out. How exciting for him, howthrillingfor her.”Vicky realized jealousy colored her words and everyone could hearit, but she’d had enough of itall.
“And what if they both suck in bed? Couldyou imagine how miserablethatrelationship could become? Imean, sex isn’t everything, but no one wants to walk around in apermanent state of sexual frustration. I’ve seen the show,Snapped; I’m pretty sure that’s why 95 percent of thosepeople went bonkers.” Vicky couldn’t get herself to shut up as herexasperation poured out. “Besides, I never understood why someonewouldn’t experience a few different men or women before settling ontheone. The idea of only knowing one man for life soundsboring to me.”
“Hey!” Abby protested.
Vicky knew she’d struck the nerve she wasaiming for to distract her sister. She actually didn’t find itboring; to each their freaking own, but this inquisition had toend.
“Of course, I didn’t meanyou,” Vickysaid with a wave of her hand. “You couldn’t help being boring;Brian ruined you when you were fifteen.”
“Hey!” Brian protested, and his headswiveled toward her.
“Well, you did,” Vicky said with a flutterof her lashes. “After she saw you, Abby forgot all other guys.”
“You make me sound like a pedophile.”Brian’s gaze went beyond Vicky to the others. “For the record, Inevertouched her when she was fifteen, and we didn’t becomemates until she was twenty-one.” He glared at Vicky before turningaway from her.
Brian guided Abby forward as her attentionremained on Vicky. Behind Nathan, Asher and Logan both stifledtheir laughter while Abby and Vicky glared at each other.
Nathan might have found the interactionbetween the twins amusing, in some ways it reminded him of hisrelationship with Kadence, but he wasn’t thrilled about being thecenter of Abby’s questions. Not when he finally had Vicky at hisside again and just wanted to take solace in her presence.
Vicky willed Abby to stop, but when Abby’sgaze shifted back to Nathan, Vicky’s temper started to boil.
“Will your engagement be soon?” Abby asked,and Vicky heard a tenor of fear in her voice.
“If the elders had their way, the ceremonywould be tomorrow,” Asher said.
Vicky’s breath caught; she struggled to keepher face impassive after this revelation, but Abby must have seenor sensed something as she stretched a hand toward her, but Vickyavoided it. If she took comfort from Abby now, she would burst intotears and never stop crying. She refused to let that happen. Hereyes had been wide open when she deepened her relationship withNathan, and she would not break over her choice.
“But Nathan told them no,” Logan said. “I’mbeginning to understand why.”
Nathan met Logan’s eyes over his shoulder.Logan was focused on Vicky, but then his attention shifted toNathan. He didn’t know what to expect from Logan, but his friendshrugged.
“Nothing will ever be the same after today,and believe me, I’m in no rush to return to the marriage choppingblock,” Logan said. “I’d prefer a little more time betweenfiancées, but I suspect the elders are planning to try marrying meoff again soon.”
“I think they’re going to marry us all off,”Asher muttered and pulled at the collar of his sweater.
Vicky buried the excitement that leapt tolife at the revelation Nathan told the elders no to the engagementceremony.
It might not meananything foryou. He’s dealing with enough right now without adding marriage toit. Of course, he would want to put the ceremony off untileverything gets straightened out,Vicky told herself.
Unfortunately, Abby didn’t seem to agree asshe turned and gave Vicky two thumbs up. Vicky rolled her eyes atthe dorky display, grateful Nathan hadn’t seen it. Brian shook hishead at his mate as Vicky and Abby simultaneously stoppedwalking.
Unprepared for the sudden halt, Nathanbarely avoided smacking into Abby’s back, but Logan didn’t stophimself from bumping into Vicky. He stepped hastily away as Vickyscented the air and her nose wrinkled.
The search of the tunnels had proven futilenight after night, but tonight, they weren’t so lucky.
CHAPTER 39
“Duncan!” Vicky hissed. “Come back!”
Ahead of them, Duncan stopped and turnedtoward her.
“What is it?” Nathan pulled a handgun fromthe shoulder holster he put on before leaving the stronghold. Heunhooked a crossbow from his side and touched the bolts tucked intoone of his inner coat pockets. When he scented the air, he caught ahint of refuse on it.
