Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,90

of me, her sweet perfume overpowering Larken’s subtle scent. I almost screamed at her to leave. Brushing a hand down my arm, she looked into my eyes. “If this is inevitable, why not save yourself? This girl cannot mean more to you than your own people do. Listen to yourself. Why can’t you just let her go?”

Because I care too much to damn her now.

“I see,” she said, dropping her hand from my skin as if it was poisonous. “You’ve taken something that was not yours, Aries. There are consequences.”

“Do you refuse to stand beside me?”

“I didn’t say that,” she hedged. “I just worry that the consequences of this action will be more than you can bear, perhaps more than you can survive.”

Before I could respond, Kes appeared in the room. He took in our proximity and his eyes darkened. “Larken would like to see Xavier.”

My claws raked my palm as I balled them into fists. “Why?”

“To make sure he’s alive, she said.”

“I’ll take her,” I told him.

His brows rose. “Very well. Should I have her meet you outside?”

“Care to go for a stroll?” I asked Virgo. She folded her hands primly and shook her head. “I should be going.”

“Get Larken,” I told Kes. “Bring her here in two minutes.”

Kes nodded and disappeared, glaring at Virgo as he vanished.

“Is there anything else?” I asked her.

Virgo’s lips pressed tightly before she spoke. “Did she maim Cancer like Aquarius claims?”

I couldn’t help the satisfied smile that crept across my lips. I’d been too busy fighting to see it happen, but I knew she had used a small blade to slice off one of Cancer’s pincers. “She did.”

“So she is dangerous. Perhaps Taurus has a valid reason to put her down.”

Incredulous, my lips parted. “What did you say?”

She held her hands up defensively. “If she’s a threat to one, she’s a threat to us all.”

“How could you? After Lager… how could you say that?” I asked. “Did his death leave you so bitter and heartless?”

She snorted a laugh. “Far worse than that, I’m afraid.” She shifted her weight. “I will stand with you, as you once stood for me, but if this ends the way I believe it will, I will not die for you, Aries. I have my own people to consider.”

“I would never ask you to do that.”

Footsteps resonated from the staircase moments before flowing ribbons of crimson fabric and tan skin appeared. My throat tightened and a dull roar pounded in my ears. Her dress was the color of blood. Helena had knotted a diamond grid around her stomach, her bruised skin peeking through the knots of fabric. The dress covered her breasts and tied behind her neck.

A small smile played on Larken’s lips until she reached the bottom step and looked up to see Virgo in my room.

“Virgo,” Larken greeted without bowing. Kes followed just behind her to the right. “You missed the fight. You must have had something very important going on to keep you from helping Aries like you said you would.”

I coughed to cover my laugh. My stars, she was gloriously fierce! Her fingertips were round and smooth, but the girl had the sharpest claws and tongue of anyone I knew.

Virgo stood taller, haughtily staring down at Larken before turning and smiling at me seductively. “I had a wonderful… talk, my friend. We should do it again soon.” Her eyes slid to Larken’s and she smirked as she left my territory.

Larken’s eyes narrowed at me. Her hair had been braided back on one side and left to trail down the other, and I was seized by the sudden desire to touch it and run my fingertips over the bumps and dips. To rake my claws through her hair and remove the braids just so I could touch her.

“I want to see Xavier,” she demanded. Before I could speak, she marched back to the staircase and stomped up the steps.

PART

THREE

Things That End

23

“You seem upset,” Aries said, jogging to catch up with me.

“I’m not.”

“The boy is alive. Do you not trust my word?”

I didn’t look at him, but he was watching me carefully. “I trust you; I just want to see him. He’s my friend, Aries. You know, like how Virgo is your friend.” My lips quirked when his brows slid toward the ground.

“She just appeared, Larken. I didn’t invite her into my chamber,” he offered softly.

I shrugged a shoulder, feigning indifference. “You can do what you want.” His eyes caught on my neck, at the