“If you’re referring to how Pavel supposedly took a chunk out of your shoulder, yeah, I heard.”
He didn’t correct the placement of the bite. It wasn’t important. “Why do you think he did that?”
Rin blinked at him. “I assume to make a point.”
“A point?”
“Yeah, to either you or someone else.” He glanced around and took a step closer. “Look, I’m going to speak to you like I would someone who isn’t a Devil of Vitality, is that cool?”
If it got him answers, yes. Zane nodded.
“There’s something off about Pavel. I’ve seen his expression a few times when he thinks no one is looking, it’s a lot like the one my brother gets. You know, the psychopathic, murderous one?”
Zane did know, though he’d never heard Rin talk about Sila Varun out loud like that. The twins were very protective of one another, and they kept their secrets close to the chest. The only reason Sila’s psychopathic tendencies had even come to light was because of Rin’s involvement with Kelevra. If the twins had coasted under the Devil's radar like they’d intended, none of them would have ever known there was anything abnormal about either of them.
Though, on a planet like this, what really was normal anyway?
“It’s worse whenever you’re around,” Rin continued. “More intense. It’s like the guy goes on high alert and tracks your every movement when you’re in the same room together. Honestly, I’m not sure how you managed not to notice, but let’s just say the violent bite isn’t as out of left field as it seems like you believe it to be.”
“He has alluded to something along those effects,” Zane admitted, though he hadn’t paid much attention to those words when Pavel had given them. People said all sorts of things when in the throes of passion or when they wanted something.
“Take it from someone who got caught by a sociopath,” Rin told him. “If this isn’t something you’re into, run. While you still can.”
Zane couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m hardly the running sort. Besides, I can handle myself.”
“Normally I would agree with you, but I’ve seen Pavel do some weird shit. Ledger dropped his keys once, and Pavel lifted their car so he could crawl under and get them. Full on just picked the front end of it up like it was nothing.”
He’d noticed the other man’s uncanny strength before but hadn’t realized it was quite to that extent.
“People like my boyfriend and my brother don’t understand the concept of consent,” Rin’s voice dipped lower. “They won’t take no for an answer, no matter how many times or different ways you say it. You’re one of them, Zane, you have to know what I mean.”
“Brother.” Sila Varun appeared suddenly, as though coming into existence as he stepped from the shadowy alcove close to the parking area of the building. “Why are you spoiling someone else's fun?”
Rin merely turned toward him, and whatever Sila saw on his face somehow was enough to change his mind.
Sila grinned wickedly. “Oh. I see. You’re not ruining anything.”
“Just creating some of my own,” Rin agreed, ignoring the way Zane bristled and glanced between the two of them suspiciously.
“Why do I suddenly feel like I’ve just been played?” Better question, why did Zane feel like that was the theme of the month?
“Poor little doctor,” Sila drawled, only for Zane to warn him with a dark look.
“I’m older than you,” he clipped.
“Poorbigdoctor,” Sila corrected, a glint in his eyes. They were identical to his twin’s, one green, the other blue. “It must be confusing with the shoe on the other foot, isn’t that right? Although,” he gave him a once over, “I suppose that isn’t quite right either. You’ve always liked to act the part of prey more than you have predator, isn’tthatright,Doctor?”
Even though Zane was in school to become a doctor, and this wasn’t the first time someone had called him by that title, all he could do was think of Pavel and wonder if Sila had overheard them before. He was clearly taunting him, boldly even.
Riskily.
Sila’s grin stretched wide across his handsome face. “He wants to take out one of his knives and cut me.”
“Iwant to take out both of his knives and cut you,” Rin exclaimed, exasperation ringing in his tone. “I heard he asked for the one he loaned Kazimir back. You’ve seen him fight. Don’t get cocky, brother.”
“The two of you are close,” Zane said. He’d known already, but it became more obvious in that moment somehow. “That is the last thing I need.”
More tightknit family rubbed in his face?
