Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,71

this is about? Why you’re here?”

I wanted to tell him everything, just blab it and let it hang in the air between us. But Kes shook his head, sterner this time. Why didn’t he trust Xavier? Kes had to know my friend would end up with a target on his back if he was anywhere near me, and good ‘companions’ didn’t stray far.

“Your sole purpose in this place, in my home, is to keep her company, Xavier,” Aries warned. “It is not to know her business. And if you can’t keep your nose and hands to yourself, I’ll find someone to replace you. Someone who is capable of both.”

Aquarius stiffened, taking his eyes off the gold earrings threaded through my ears.

Xavier’s lips pinched together and his fists tightened on the handles of the fork and knife he held. “If I’m in danger, I’d at least like to know it.”

Aquarius raised his glass and tipped it to Xavier. “You, my friend, are in danger. There. Now, everything’s out in the open.”

I was seething, my skin getting hotter the angrier I became. “You don’t get to do that,” I told Aries, my veins heating with anger.

“I don’t get to do what?” he asked coolly, leaning back in his chair.

“Don’t engage her,” Virgo advised Aries.

“What do you care if he engages me?” I snapped.

“What do I not get to do?” Aries goaded, leaning back with his arms crossed, a smug and semi-entertained look on his face.

“You don’t get to order him to be my friend or companion. If you want him to be that, and he’s unable to keep his hands to himself, or if I’m unable to keep my hands to myself, then it’s none of your business. You don’t care, right? You just care what your friends here tell you is best. Their opinion is what matters.”

Kes groaned across the table. “Your mouth, Larken.”

“Don’t even start. It’s not fair! This double standard for women has existed for centuries, and now you’re perpetuating it on a cosmic level, Aries. It’s bullshit!”

Xavier’s mouth popped open. I could tell he was fighting back a smile, but he wisely covered it with his napkin.

“This isn’t a feminist issue,” Kes argued. “You don’t understand—”

Virgo didn’t have scales like Libra, but her hand slithered over to Aries and she leaned in to whisper something to him.

He nodded, then all the warmth flooded from his eyes, replaced by cold indifference. “You’re emotional. Perhaps it would be best to dine separately from now on.”

Ugh. I’d seen Lord of the Rings when the King of Rohan was being brainwashed by the slithery little twerp, and this seemed no different. I would find Aries wandering around the castle one day, weakened, his eyes clouding over with milky inaction, all because he was taking the opinion of someone who didn’t have his best interests in mind.

“I completely agree,” I said. “In fact, I’m not hungry anymore.” As I stood, the legs of my chair scraped the stone with a loud screech. Holding my shoulders back, I hoped he took in every inch of my exposed skin as I sauntered across the room, swaying my hips for good measure.

I made it halfway to the door when a sound like thunder shook the walls. I thought Aries was in the middle of another tantrum, but when I turned around to look, he was still seated, perfectly still.

So still.

The candelabra in the center of the table jumped a few inches as something loud crashed outside the room. Aries was in front of me in an instant, handing me to Kes, who appeared at my side. “Take her away,” he growled.

Virgo’s upper lip curled as Taurus thundered into the room. “Hello, Aries!” he boomed. “It seems my invitation to dinner was misplaced.” He smiled wickedly at the room’s inhabitants. “Virgo, Aquarius,” he greeted. Then his molten orange eyes fastened on me and a gleeful smile stretched over his face. “Larken.”

My breath caught in my chest. “He knows my name,” I whispered to Kes, who trembled. Whether from fear or anger, I wasn’t sure.

“I brought someone to see you,” Taurus taunted, watching me for a response. A rise he knew he’d get when he jerked my father into the room.

“Dad!” I cried, lurching toward him, held back by the arm Kes wrapped around my waist.

“Are you guys okay?” he managed to shout.

Before I could answer, Kes clasped my elbow and my breath caught in my chest as I caught fire and the room and everything in it