“You need to replenish your strength. You’ve punished us enough.”
I whipped my head toward Dorian, about to lay into him for the accusation, but their expressions halted the words. Deep purplish-red painted the bottom of their bloodshot eyes. Both their hair was a mess, but Dorian’s was a bit more unkempt since Rafe’s hair was more coarse.
Had they slept?
A smidgen of empathy struck my chest, and I stamped it down.
“Eat,” Rafe ordered and ripped me out of the train of thought that would have led to more poor decisions.
“Now you want to take care of me?”
I knew why they’d changed; I just liked being petty.
“Dammit, Eva!” Dorian shouted, slamming his fist against the table. It rattled, but fortunately nothing fell. His chest rose and fell harshly. “Why are you being so difficult?”
“What, you want me to roll over and bare my neck to you now that you’ve pulled your head out of your ass?” I spat, but I wasn’t done. “Why don’t you shove me in that closet again if you feel like I’m notobeying?”
He opened then closed his mouth, his jawline twitching. “No,” he whispered, anger deflating. “We shouldn’t have done that.” He closed his eyes and scrubbed his palm over his mouth.
Rafe crouched, bringing him closer to my face. “You’ll get sick if you continue like this.”
Omegas were notorious for their weak immune systems.
“We fucked up?—”
“You don’t say,” I interrupted Dorian. Based on the vein that appeared to throb on his temple, I was pissing him off.
“Stop playing, Eva.”
“Oh, I’ve earned my name? No longer,Omega or girl?”
Dorian’s eyes narrowed.
Rafe caught my hand. I looked at him crouched before me.
“Eat the food.” His gravelly voice sent tingles down my spine. Where we touched hands was more warm and comforting than I would like to admit. “Please. Then we’ll leave you to rest in peace.” He watched me steadily while my heart raced, and I tried not to show just how much his proximity affected me.
“Fine,” I grumbled and grabbed the fork to stab it into a slice of the meat. As soon as the savory touched my tongue, I was fucked. I scarfed the food down like a vacuum.
I didn’t even care that they watched my every little move.
Finishing up the food until the plate was clean was my single goal. As much as I enjoyed it, I wasn’t going to let them watch me savor their meal. That would make their Alpha hearts blissful. I chugged down half the water and stood, thumping the glass down.
“Done,” I announced and pushed the chair back. Rafe tugged it further back, getting it out of my way. I brushed past Dorian and into the bedroom I’d been staying in before I’d sequestered myself in his bedroom.
He loomed behind me, throwing me into shadow with his stature. I quickened my pace, yanked open the door and slammed it in Dorian’s face. He’d been dogging my steps so much that I was surprised he hadn’t stepped on me.
“You said you’d leave me alone.” After a few moments of silence from the other side, I pressed my forehead against the surface.
I’d left the Epad in his bedroom, but I didn’t want to go out there. Anyway, I’d done what I set out to do, which was toconfirm Demi was Susanna. The rest of the information I needed wouldn’t be found on the internet.
What I needed to know now was why she left. And when and how.
A thump echoed from nearby. I jolted and scanned the room with a quick sweep of my eyes, but there was no one. The sound came again, and I followed it into the closet. Light from the bedroom cast to the back of the closet . . . where Cade sat, eyes closed, and head thumping against the wall.
What’s wrong with him?
“Cade?” I called, keeping my voice low. He didn’t react and thumped his head again. I opened the door further, so the light could guide me inside. Cade had been the most talkative. He could fill in the holes once I figured out what the hell was wrong with him.
