collections of things I liked, just because he knew it hurt my dragon and I. Running my fingers along Maya’s hand, I began to play with her rings, staring down at them as I tried to compartmentalize my emotions. They were shiny enough to keep my attention, but I found more than anything I just enjoyed taking stuff of hers that she used often.
Something that was not considerate at all, but I couldn’t stop myself.
I just wanted to collect everything Maya touched because I truly felt like there was no way this was real. That she would want me. So if I had things that reminded me of our time together, then I would always at least have that.
I didn’t realize I was tense until I flinched when Maya’s hand brushed over my shoulder gently, jolting me from my thoughts. I looked down at her, realizing most of the meal had passed and my food was untouched, the feel of my father’s eyes still on me. Ledger was probably handling this far better than myself. He had always been stronger. Better at dealing with the trauma from our past.
“Anani, what’s going on?” Maya asked, her voice filled with concern.
I tried to answer honestly. “My father is here.”
What I saw flash through Maya’s eyes both made me realize how much I loved her and shocked me a bit. Actual anger—not frustration, but true, unfiltered fury—filled her gaze as she let out a sound that reminded me of a hiss through clenched teeth. I could feel her magic wrapping around me as she whipped her head to the side, looking over the crowd. I pulled her close to me, her hand resting on my chest as her heated skin turned hotter, her breathing faster than normal.
“It’s fine,” I promised her. “Really, peanut.”
“It’s not fine,” she argued, looking back at me, her eyes prickling with tears. “No one should have ever been allowed to hurt you.”
The conviction in her voice had me searing my lips with hers as thankfulness and adoration for this woman shocked my system. I cupped her jaw as she sighed into it, deepening it as I let out a low rumble. I didn’t realize someone was trying to reach us until I heard Marco’s voice.
“Don’t.” Marco’s tone was calm. Way too calm, which told me all I needed to know. I ended the kiss and pulled back, looking up to find Gavriel standing there looking pissed. My own temper spiked, annoyed that he would try to interrupt our moment together.
I knew it was ridiculous since they were her fathers and brothers, but I hated the idea of any man outside of our flight having a claim over Maya. It made me angry that they felt like they had any say in what she could and couldn’t do when she was not only capable of making her own decisions but had chosen us. She wanted us, so they could fuck off.
“I don’t like this shit,” he said in a voice filled with more emotion than I thought possible. “How the hell do we even know you’re her actual mates? It sounds like you just happened to be the first people she came across—”
“They are my mates.” Maya’s voice was harder than I thought possible as she stood up next to Marco, her hand running through my hair as I grabbed it gently and pressed kisses to her long fingers.
Gavriel frowned, looking at Marco. “You understand how goddamn odd that is, right? That she escapes after being imprisoned for years, and then all the sudden she happens to run into your goddamn flight. She shouldn’t be with you guys and you fucking know it, Marco.”
Marco’s eyes went cold. “I’m not doing this here, Gavriel. Maya is our mate. Whether you like it or not isn’t something that matters.”
“It's not like you have much room to talk,” Henry added, his eyes narrowing.
Gavriel let out a growl. “I’m not taking advantage of a fucking mate who has no idea what I’m capable of.”
“You don’t have a mate,” I added as I watched Eleven go completely still, making me wonder if my prediction was correct.
Gavriel’s gaze was cold and a bit terrifying as he seemed to consider something while looking at me before shaking his head. Eleven stepped in and spoke. “Just give them some space, Gav. You don’t have a right—”
He turned towards her and spoke softly. “Seems I don’t have the right to do or fucking say anything, Eleven.”
Maya made a concerned