Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,103
forgive one another.”
He gave a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m afraid that Zodia friendships are yet another power struggle, much more delicate than the relationships to which you’re accustomed.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Humans can be pretty fickle, not to mention stubborn and prideful to a fault. We hate admitting we’re ever wrong, and saying ‘I’m sorry’ is sometimes the hardest thing in the world when it should be the easiest.”
He opened his mouth and closed it, his lashes fluttering as he grappled with his thoughts. “When I woke, I had no idea you’d be like this.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I’m pretty awesome. If only Taurus knew that and would stop coming after me, even in my sleep.”
His vulnerable expression morphed into a harder one and I regretted opening my mouth.
“It wouldn’t matter to him even if he knew, because of what you are.”
“Stupid pledge,” I teased, nudging his elbow with mine.
He shook his head and blew out a tense breath.
Kes appeared in the library. “Dinner is prepared,” he said formally, his eyes widening when he saw the book in my lap. They darted to Aries, who stood and slid his own back into its spot along the wall shelf.
“Would you like to have dinner upstairs?” Aries asked. “Or here?”
He was giving me an option. “Here,” I answered. I didn’t want to leave his rooms, to be honest. I felt more comfortable and safe here, which was ridiculous. Virgo had apparently shown up down here unannounced. The rest of them could, too.
Suddenly, the room became suffocating. They could easily corner us down here. There was only one way up and down – the staircase. What if I couldn’t reach it? What if they cut off the exit?
“On second thought, maybe upstairs would be better. Could I just eat in my room?” I blurted.
Aries was taken aback by my abrupt change of heart, but rolled with it. “Of course.”
“You’re welcome to eat with me, Aries. I’m just… freaking out.”
He nodded. “Then we’ll have our dinners in her chamber, Kes,” he told my brother, who disappeared to tell the other Guardians what our preference was.
Aries gestured to the book I still clung to. “You’re welcome to come back and read anything you like, but I have to insist the books stay in this room,” he said.
“Oh,” I handed him the journal. “Sorry.”
He replaced the book, turning and locking eyes with me to make sure I saw where it was, in case I wanted to continue the story. Something stirring within said I should.
He said I mattered. I mattered to him.
And Aries mattered to me.
I’d been his since he woke, pledge or no pledge.
I glanced at the beautifully painted, constellation-strewn ceiling and for a moment, imagined I was with Aries under the stars and that the world wasn’t trying to rip us apart.
26
Aries and I ate dinner together, then he told me to rest. I lied and told him I was fine when I was far from it, but he knew. He promised to stay with me through the night and be there when I woke. I made him pinky swear – which I explained was more binding than any silly pledge – to wake me if he had to leave.
When I woke, he was there. I opened my eyes to see his face close to mine. I laughed inside. We’d come so far in a week. I used to freak out when he invaded my space like this, but now I loved it.
“Hi,” he said softly.
“Hey.”
We lay on my bed, me under the covers and him on top of them. I’d pushed the blankets down to wrap my arms around him at some point, and they were still there now that I’d woken.
If it bothered him, he didn’t show it. He didn’t pull away or stand up, but laid there searching my eyes and allowing me to do the same.
“Kes is angry with me,” he said.
“For what?”
“For laying here with you.”
“You’re on top of the covers,” I giggled. “And it’s not like Kes hasn’t hooked up, so he has no room to talk.”
“He is protective of you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Brothers.”
“How did you sleep?” he asked carefully.
“Soundly. If I dreamed, I don’t remember it.”
He brushed a strand of hair away from my eye. “You’re so quiet when you sleep.”
Thank goodness. If he’d said I snored, I would have been mortified.
He leaned toward me and planted a soft kiss on my lips. My heartbeat rose as he leaned in for another.