Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,69

know everything about Aries. You see, he doesn’t expect me to be his Guardian without sharing everything with me. You saw me offer him my memories, but did you know he also gave me his? Every single one. Since he was created. He shared that with me so that he and I would be as equal as possible. He shares them with me still. Every evening.”

I was taken aback. I had no idea Aries shared everything with Kes. My face heated at the realization that my brother was, in fact, aware of all that happened between me and Aries in the dining room.

“So believe me when I say that while he respects Virgo, he does not care for her. And he never will.”

I swallowed thickly, thoughtful as I studied the design stitched onto the front of Kes’s tunic. Tonight’s embroidered pattern was made up of a series of constellations… Aries, Virgo, and Aquarius, of course. “How’d you get the tunic made in time?”

He rolled his eyes. “I can tug you through space and time. Rearranging a few thread patterns is much simpler.”

“I bet it doesn’t hurt the thread,” I grumbled, looking back into the mirror. I reached into my jewelry box and pulled out a pair of golden threader earrings, a tiny bar at each end. I put them on as Kes waited impatiently.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” he said quietly, spearing me with a look through the mirror.

“I’m going to dinner.”

He shook his head and gave a mirthless laugh. “You’re going to get me killed.”

“I can handle myself,” I said, turning around to face him.

Xavier appeared over his shoulder, his mouth falling open when he saw me. “Damn.”

Kes slowly turned toward him.

Xavier put his hands up. “Sorry, man, but she looks hot. Smoking hot, Larken,” he said directly to me.

I smiled. “Thanks.”

I walked around the bed and threaded my hand through the crook of Xavier’s elbow, Kes cursing as he closed the door behind us.

ARIES

When she walked in, I nearly snapped the table in two in my effort not to run to her and remove the hand she rested on Xavier’s arm. I immediately regretted bringing him here.

She held her chin and shoulders proudly, but the scraps of dark teal that knotted to reveal her form nearly unraveled me.

A smile stretched over Aquarius’s face as his eyes traced the beads and chains of gold appreciatively.

Virgo was the only one among us not smiling. She appraised Larken shrewdly, then turned dismissively away.

Larken’s sweet scent was too much to bear.

And speaking of baring… The outsides of her thighs were exposed, the fabric between them swaying with each step. The skin peeking out glowed luminously and her feet were bare against the stone.

The wood beneath my fingers popped loudly.

Aquarius turned his golden eyes to my hands with a raised brow. I released the table.

17

A loud popping noise filled the air. I paused and looked around but didn’t see anything out of place. Kes didn’t even acknowledge it. He moved to pull a chair out next to Aries, but I shoved Xavier toward it and took the one between Xavier and Aquarius, across from Virgo, whom Kes would sit beside. She, of course, sat at Aries’s right hand.

I didn’t look at Aries for a very long time, but I felt the warmth of his stare and a tingle on my hip where his mark was.

Our cups were filled with sparkling water and woodsy, scented red wine. “Madame?” the Guardian with the blue mohawk asked, holding a bottle and glass.

“No, thank you,” I declined graciously.

“She’s far too young for wine,” Virgo said sweetly.

“I’m not too young to die, so if I want wine, I’ll have some, thank you. I’m just not in the mood.” I raised my brows to let her know she had no business telling me what to do. It was the same look I fed my folks when I was being a smart-ass.

They hated it.

So did Virgo.

She quickly recovered, placing her delicate hand over Aries’s. Her claws weren’t dipped in starlight. They were a peachy-pink, nearly translucent, though nothing as beautiful and dark as Aries’s. But they would cut the same, I bet.

Kes stared holes into the side of my head, so I turned my attention from her to him. He gave a fractional shake of his head. Don’t, his eyes said.

I reconsidered the glass of wine, but dinner was placed in front of me, consisting of a plate of steaming hot vegetables, a small cut of steak,