“Hey!” Zephyr called as Skye turned on her heel. “Are you doing breakfast or the café?!”
“Neither!” She yelled back.
“Motherfucker,” Zephyr snarled, his good mood gone.
Wyatt and Rafe both moved a moment later, Skye having freed them.
“Well, at least she didn’t kick us out.” Rafe said lightly.
Zephyr rounded back on him, and I cleared my throat, trying to draw his attention to me. I didn’t want him to do something he’d regret.
“You’ll wish she did,” Zephyr said darkly.
Okay, so he probably wouldn’t regret whatever he did, but Skye might be pissed.
“Zeph,” I said, my voice a little higher than normal. “Don’t do something that’ll upset Skye.”
Zephyr glared at me, but it lost its heat quickly. His shoulders slumped. “Fine,” he muttered. “The two of you can stay here if Skye allows it.”
He turned on his heel just like Skye had, then slammed his door.
I cringed at the loudness. Just as I turned back to face my two Link-mates, there was a thud from somewhere below us. Rafe and Wyatt froze, their eyes darting to mine in alarm.
Of course, that was probably Skye downstairs with Levi, but the other two didn’t need to know that.
“You’re welcome,” I said flatly. “You two should scram.”
“Actually, if I could have a word?” Rafe said, then cut a glare at Wyatt. “Alone.”
Wyatt pursed his lips, but only shook his head before he strode away, leaving through the door to the café, where I assumed he’d be waiting for Rafe.
“Aiden,” Rafe said, walking toward me. “Listen, I know you don’t hate me.”
“You had to pull me aside to say that?” I asked, not even trying to be funny.
Rafe sighed deeply. “No, Aiden. I want to ask if you’ll give me advice.”
“Oh,” I replied. “Okay. About Skye?”
Rafe nodded eagerly. “Is shereallymad at me? What can I do? What did you do to get back on her good side?”
I could feel my cheeks heating just remembering the clearing in the woods, where Skye pulled my hair and put me on my knees for the first time.
Rafe’s eyebrows were at his hairline as he watched me.
“Um,” I cleared my throat, trying to give myself more time to think. “Well, she’s not mad, exactly. She’s a little against the idea of a Chain. I’m not sure why, but I don’t think I’d tell you even if I knew.”
“Fair,” Rafe replied, waving his hand in a signal to go on.
“She’s definitely mad you broke into the apartment,” I went on. “But she can forgive you for that, I think. She’s been coming around to the idea of there being more than just me, but she’s still…apprehensive.”
“I can work with that,” Rafe said. “Anything else? Anything you can think of?”
I shook my head, but paused as I reconsidered.
After Skye ran out into the rain after shadow Rafe, she hadn’t said much about him. She liked that he was bringing her books to help her research. But when she found out the Prince was in her Chain, and he’d made no effort to meet her…
“She’s a little insecure,” I said, hating myself for revealing it. “Part of her thinks she isn’t good enough for you, otherwise you would’ve come to meet her sooner.”
