Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,100

they were clear enemies. Virgo’s allegiance was blurred, at best.

That only left Scorpio and Capricorn. They hadn’t attacked with the others, but didn’t come to help, either. Maybe they wanted to remain neutral, or maybe they hadn’t shown their hands yet.

I was convinced the Zodia would come after me. They would attack Aries as a team, then while Aries and his Guardians were distracted, Taurus would stalk and kill me. They didn’t care about the lives of his people or Guardians; they just wanted him gone.

“I think you should take back the pledge,” I rasped.

His eyes, now dark pink, flared. “The thing about one’s word, Larken, is that it cannot be taken back once given.”

“Damn your pride, Aries! It’s going to get you killed. It’ll get my brother killed, and then all the people born under your sign.” My outburst sapped all my energy and I wheezed, pressing a hand to my chest where the invisible puncture ached again.

“Sit down,” he said, rushing to my side. “What… Why are you holding your chest?”

“Because it hurts!” I cried in frustration. “It’s been hurting since I woke up.”

Fear shone in Aries’s eyes right before they flicked to the library. “I need to check something. You should lie back down.”

“Can I just sit in there?” I asked, looking at the shelves visible from the doorway longingly. “I love to read. And I feel safer near you.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

I probably could have asked for a pony and he would’ve made one appear for me right in the middle of his chamber, or in the beautiful library just beyond it. The guilt swimming in his eyes was as dark as a monster lurking in deep water.

He stopped at the mirror and waited, the question in his eyes. “I’d love to see them right now,” I told him.

The glimpses were so short, but they were everything. Mom and Dad were sleeping. So far apart, but doing the same thing… they looked peaceful.

Somewhat satisfied by the brief glimpses of my parents, I walked into the library, Aries by my side. I felt incredibly weak, like I really had been gored and lost all my blood. My legs barely had the strength to support me. How could a dream, or any sort of threat, do that?

Maybe one of his books held the answers. They were usually chock full of them. Even in fiction, my favorite authors could highlight universal truths and word them in such a way that they became a tattoo on my heart. I scanned the spines. Every book was written in a language I couldn’t recognize, let alone read. My shoulders sank in disappointment.

“You can read them now,” he said softly, his voice raking down my spine like a caress.

I glanced up, letting my fingers drift among the spines, and pulled a soft, leather-bound book out, flipping it open. The pages were like silk, and as I watched, the symbols inscribed inside shifted and rearranged into words I could read and understand.

“Thank you.”

He stepped closer. I could feel the warmth radiating from his body against my back. He trailed a finger down my arm. “You can come here whenever you’d like. You don’t have to ask.”

I couldn’t do that. I didn’t want to invade his privacy again, and waltzing through someone’s bedroom whenever you wanted would be doing just that.

“Don’t,” he breathed. “I want you here.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“That doesn’t stop me from wanting you. I need you close to me.”

He leaned his forehead against the back of my head. His breath toyed with my hair. I didn’t know if his eyes were open or closed, but when his claw gently raked up the center of my palm, I let out a faint gasp.

“I’ve never been so afraid as when I felt your fear,” he admitted.

“Felt it?”

His hand went to cover my mark.

“Oh,” I said, swallowing thickly. A war raged across his beautiful, enigmatic features. “You won’t break me, Aries.” I brought his hand to my waist and laid my head on his chest.

“I’m afraid I might. You’re weak right now.”

“Your heart is thundering.”

He cleared his throat. “I’m afraid.”

I raised my head. “You?”

He nodded. “Taurus must know what the nightmare would do. If he attacks now…”

“I wouldn’t be strong enough to run away or fight back.”

He kissed my temple and ran his hands up and down my back.

“Are there any books about you – the Zodia, I mean?” I asked, finding my voice.

He nodded. “Several.”

He dragged his eyes away to walk across the room. “This will