Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,70

and sweet dates.

Xavier nudged me. You okay? he mouthed.

I nodded, looking up to find Aries watching us.

Aquarius had golden teeth with a matching tongue and throat, but they all worked. Unlike Aries, he had no problem using his utensils despite having claw-tipped fingers. He sliced through his steak like it was a piece of butter. I imagined he was just as good with a sword or dagger.

I need a weapon.

I remembered the strangled feeling of being held beneath the water, my lungs burning. If I’d had a knife to use, I would’ve stabbed and stabbed until either I drowned, or Pisces let me go. I imagined the feeling of my blade sinking into her invisible fish flesh, her blood flooding the water around us, blinding us both.

I could steal one of these steak knives… but wasn’t sure where to hide it in this ‘dress.’

“You’re terribly and unusually quiet,” Aquarius noted with amusement, watching as I cut my steak into small, easy-to-chew pieces.

“I have nothing to say,” I answered.

He smiled and glanced knowingly at Aries. I didn’t bother looking at him. I knew his dark brows were furrowed and he was likely glowering. Also, I didn’t want to see Virgo touch him or vice versa. Speaking of the she-devil, she engaged him in a whispered conversation. It was rude, but whatever. These things didn’t care about manners.

“So, you’re not worried about leaving your territory unattended?” I asked Aquarius.

He laughed. “Aries started a trend. I’ve also made Guardians.”

“I hope you can trust them. You just never know who might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” I glanced at Virgo.

Kes’s foot slowly crushed my bare toes. I tucked my feet under my chair, giving him a death stare. He stared back, stabbing a piece of meat and chewing angrily.

Aquarius thanked me for the kind advice and offered another sliver of information. “Making Guardians does not go against our vows, but to keep things even, I’ve only created twelve – to match Aries.”

“What do your vows consist of?” I asked, taking a sip of water.

Aquarius sat his fork down and grabbed my hand. His was warm, despite the fact he was made of gold. The skin of his hand felt hard, but smooth. Like a statue in a park worn smooth by the children who climbed all over it.

Did gold pump through his veins? Did he see and feel differently from the others, or was he able to see and feel more than we did?

He brought my fingers closer, examining my small golden ring.

Did gold call to him?

Like Aries, there was a keenness about him. And about Virgo as well, I reluctantly admitted. As Helena noted, her dress wasn’t revealing. It was knotted, but mostly covered her. Somehow, she even had sleeves. I didn’t pretend to think I could make one of these dresses myself, and if we were supposed to dress like this from now on, I hoped Helena would teach me, though she certainly couldn’t come and help me every day.

“Her looks have improved since this morning,” Virgo noted dryly, studying me coolly.

“Larken is always lovely, but when she adds gold…” Aquarius admired, fingering the golden chains dripping from my bicep just as Helena predicted.

“You have quite a fondness for gold, my friend,” Xavier laughed.

Aquarius’s hand went still against my skin. “Perhaps it is not the gold I am admiring at present,” he fired back with a smug expression. Xavier’s easy smile fell away, replaced with the glint of hatred I’d seen earlier.

Kes gave me a look that said I told you this wouldn’t end well.

I reclaimed my hand and sawed at my broccoli, feigning indifference to the swirl of emotions crashing around the table.

“You’ll have to stop dining with her, stop parading her around outside, and hide her completely away,” Virgo asserted, carefully watching Aries for a response.

Suddenly, his eyes raked over me and goosebumps erupted over my skin as though he’d brushed across my collar bones.

“If the others think she means anything to you…” Virgo said softly, her brows contorting as if she felt his pain.

“Why would it matter?” I asked abruptly.

Virgo’s eyes slid to mine.

“If I’m going to die anyway, why does it even matter?” I asked, wiping my mouth with my napkin and tossing it onto my plate.

“You’re going to die?” Xavier asked, confused by the sudden turn in conversation.

Kes scrubbed a hand down his face.

“What’s going on?” my bewildered prom date pressed. When no one answered, he turned to me. “Are you in trouble? Is that what