The Girl Who Fell From The Sky - Rebecca Royce Page 0,38
Like it. Sort of, I mean? All of these men were good people, kind people, brave people. And okay, yes, scorchingly attractive people. I wouldn’t have thought up such a life for myself on this planet, and every cosmic power knew I hadn’t expected it, but now that it was laid right out in front of me like a done deal, I figured I could do worse. I liked them. All of them.
However, getting Astor on board with the sharing thing was not going to be fun. I was so glad I didn’t have to do it.
“Excellent,” Torrin said. He shifted his weight slightly, to let me know he felt the distance I’d put between us. Of course, being Torrin, that didn’t disturb him. “We have things to discuss. First, though, I thank you for looking after Bianca while I was away.”
See what I meant? Right out with it. Torrin shied away from nothing, which, to someone who had been sheltered and held back all her life, looked exhilarating. I would have loved to have been so brave.
Though courage didn’t necessarily require a lack of cruelty, did it? Mattis arrived at that moment, carrying a bundle that almost certainly had to be his branding equipment. Torrin had told him to add his numbers to my arm tonight. He didn’t say anything, just looked from brother to brother.
Astor, for his part, got very, very still. His eyes narrowed to slits, and he tilted his head, a smile sliding across his mouth. It wasn’t a friendly smile. It was more like a challenge. I remembered that smile from when I first met him, when I sincerely believed Nox’s joke that he might eat me. He might not have been a war leader or a fighter, but he was definitely a dangerous man.
“Did she tell you how very well I took care of her?” he drawled.
Tension sparked between the two of them. But didn’t it always? Astor said his brother loved him, but their relationship didn’t look particularly loving. And the last thing either of these exhausted, anxiety-laden men needed was to engage in a pissing contest over an alien female. So this alien female interrupted them before they could even get started.
My cheeks still flaming, I stepped between them and smiled brightly. “I’m just going to peek in on Nox, okay? Astor, we’re all here for the night, Mattis too, so we might as well get comfortable. If you brought any food, maybe you all can figure out some lunch, because I’m starving.”
And I ducked into Nox’s room before any of them could say a single word.
I put my back against the wall and pressed a hand to my chest. My heart was unexpectedly just fine. In fact, I felt amazing, like I’d just spoken truth to power or something. Like I’d been even the slightest bit…brave? But they made it easy. I knew that none of them would hurt me if I behaved like a brat.
Because it was the thing I’d said I was coming in here for, I glanced toward Nox’s bed. And sucked in a breath. He was shaking. Oh no, that couldn’t be good. I scanned through all I knew about drug interactions as I sped over to him, my mouth already open and loading in words to call for help.
Then I noticed his face. His eyes were open, he was looking straight at me. Smiling. And he was shaking from…laughter.
I almost punched him.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” I whispered furiously. “I thought you were seizing.”
“No, I am so much better. Thank you. It’s just that you…” He struggled to keep his laughter quiet. “I can’t believe you just did that, ordering them around. Torrin is going to be so furious. You truly are unexpected. And perfect for us.”
Us, he’d said. I sank onto the side of his bed and swallowed my fears, after a few moments, even sharing some of his humor, but I couldn’t quite get that us out of my mind. Nox, easy-going as he was, would be fine, but Astor? Sparks could fly, and I really didn’t want to be at the center of that blaze.
The curtain swung away, and all three of them followed me in.
“Nox.” Torrin stepped toward him. “You are awake, my brave friend. What you did? Stepping in front of the blast meant for me, I would not have you do for anything in the world. If it’s my day to die, it’s my day.”