Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,28

you if he could, based on his aura,” she commented, her amusement mocking him.

I nodded I heard her. “I’m not apologizing because you did deserve it, but it was an accident.” I didn’t wait for his reply, glancing at Larson. “You’ll fill him in on the crystals and what we learned?”

“Of course. We’ll start pushing your new level after lunch when you recharge.”

“Good. Thanks.” I wasn’t sure what else I would have said or done next, my mind on the journals I’d been acquiring, but a different pissed off male came in from the garage.

Still naked.

And with his conduit?

I raised an eyebrow at Lucca wearing it now. He wouldn’t have left it at home if he was planning to stay here a week, so it must have been with his stuff he’d left in the garage or hallway when he’d arrived?

That was as far as my mind got before he was on me.

And I was over his shoulder again.

“This is getting old,” I drawled as he carried me off. “And it didn’t go so well last time you did it in this house, especially pissed.”

He flinched but kept going. He ducked down when we reached my room so I was safe and set me on my feet.

And knelt in front of me with his head hung.

Huh?

What the fuck was going on now?

Fucking men.

6

“Would you please put up a barrier so no one hears us?” he asked softly.

“I told you to—”

“Please, kitten,” he begged. “Please.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped even as I put up the barrier. “Just because I slapped you around doesn’t mean you’re forgiven or we’re okay.”

“I know. I know that.” He let out a slow breath. “I was going to ask this morning after we all talked. I swear I was. I didn’t even know I could swing staying until late last night when Mother announced she was taking a break and going on a retreat since Father broke their vacation plans. He immediately changed everything to follow her and—whatever. I was going to ask.”

“That’s not what you said,” I reminded him.

He nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve handled so much of this like shit. Fucking Neldor drives—”

“How can you blame this on him? Your behavior on him? I have no problem blaming everything on him that’s his fault, but I’m fair and—”

“Not a man, Tamsin,” he snarled, shaking his head to try and chill. “He pushes buttons, and us, in ways you don’t get. You ignore a lot of it, but it’s harder for us to.”

I lost some of my anger and stopped to listen. “Sometimes it’s not ignoring it, but not getting it, and admitting that to him is dangerous. I don’t understand what I’ve missed. I’ve shut him down when he’s tried to get me break up with Darby.”

Lucca lifted his head and thick rage was in his eyes, but I didn’t think it was for me. “He’s made it clear several times that you were promised to him and you will be his as his mate and we’re just the harem he’ll allow you if you behave as you should. That’s all the value we have and—”

“Lucca,” I sighed, moving to kneel with him. “You should ignore that, you stupid bear. Why the fuck are you listening to him about what I’ll allow or my life?”

“You were betrothed—”

“No, we weren’t,” I declared firmly. I grabbed his arms when he gave me a look that I was being silly. “Listen to me! I didn’t agree to shit. Someone made a promise on my behalf that had no right to. Hear me when I say they sold me for peace or whatever else and I cannot—I will not be a whore who is sold to that asshole. I don’t care who said what; I never gave consent and it’s not anything.”

He couldn’t hide his shock as I finally unleashed the full depths of my disgust at being promised to someone as a baby like I was property by my family who I had dreamed of my entire life who clearly had never loved me. “Oh, kitten.”

“Why are you letting him win? You stupid bear! You’re supposed to be on my side. You care what he’s doing and saying like it matters, and it’s driving a wedge between us. You’re destroying our barely anything relationship by choosing Mel and listening to that piece of shit I loathe. Why? Why are you doing this to us?”

“I’m—”

“Do you hate that fate picked me?” I choked out, finally asking