He gives me a cold stare that probably works on other people. “He’s not here. I am. And considering everything he did while I slept—” his voice drips with disdain, “—I’d say it’s about time for me to clean up his mess.”
He takes a step toward me.
I dodge around the bed, getting low, arms up. “I’m serious.” I bare my teeth. “I bite.” I snap my jaw at him for emphasis.
Romulus actually pauses to stretch his neck, frowning as he feels along his collarbone. “Yes. I can see that.”
“Not like that!” Heat floods my cheeks, but I push through it. “I hate you. I’ll bite your finger clean off.”
“It’ll just grow back.”
“Wha—” I scoff, completely thrown. Then I rally, crossing my arms tight over my chest. “Don’t you think you should wait until your brothers get back from vacation before you make any hasty decisions? Like, I don’t know, kidnapping me?”
He tilts his head, and something shifts in his expression. He nods slowly. “Well, little girl?—”
My spine goes rigid.
“—at last, you say something sensical. I’ll summon Abaddon. He’ll know what to do. At least he’ll back my play because, obviously—” he says it like I’m stupid, “—the logical thing is to put you back exactly where my brother found you.”
“Hey!” The word cracks like a whip. “Why don’t you start trying not to be an asshole, like... right now?”
He narrows his eyes at me, then strides for the door.
Which is another kick to the gut. He’s justleaving.
“Wait!”
He stops.
He starts to turn around, but I wave him off. “No. Don’t. I don’t want to see your stupid face.”
I reach up to Remus’s sleeping features on the back of Romulus’s head and caress his cheek. He looks calm in sleep. Nothing like himself. Remus never looks calm. He’s always riled about something, always burning bright. He’s the very definition of alive.
I stretch up on my toes and kiss his sleeping lips, whispering against them, “Come back to me, my love.”
Romulus doesn’t move for a long moment after I pull back.
For one heartbeat, I let myself hope. Maybe the kiss will wake him. Maybe they’ll switch back.
But no.
Romulus reaches for the door and stomps out. Those massive wings swooping behind him. That tail dragging near the floor instead of dancing playfully in the air like it does when Remus is in control.
I follow him into the hallway. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“Wait.”
He slams the door in my face.
I stare at the wood, breathing hard, hands clenched into fists.
Yeah. Fuck that.
THIRTEEN
ROMULUS
Come back to me,my love.
