“I said no.”
“You also said yes.”
“No, I didn’t!”
Aros leaned over, his breath against my cheek. “You did,” he confirmed. “But it’s okay. You’re one of us now. We said we’d protect you if you stole us the cup, and now we will. You becoming an Abcurse is the only way that’s going to happen.”
“What?” I turned on him, and then on the others. None of them looked shocked. Maybe they had discussed it while I slept. “Are you going toadopt me?” I screeched.
Coen leapt out of his chair, looking disgusted. A few mouths dropped open.
“What?” choked Siret.
“Am I supposed to be your sister?” I was still speaking in that voice that was part-screech. “Are your parents going to adopt me? Are you going tomarry me?Isn’t that illegal? No, wait, it’s just procreation between sols and dwellers that’s illegal. I remember now, Emmy told me.” I was clearly rambling at this point, but I couldn’t stop myself. “So I guess … technically, marriage is legal … but I don’t want to get married! I’m too young to get married! I still need to learn how to cook! And … and I—”
“Calm down.” Yael’s voice washed over me, stealing the bubble of words from my mouth. “Sit down.”
I looked down at my chair. I hadn’t even realised that I’d jumped out of it. Had it been when Coen jumped out of his? Maybe I had reflexively copied him. Which was weird. I sank back down.
“Take a deep breath, Willa,” Yael continued, the smallest of smiles spreading across his face. “There’s no way in hell that you’re going to be related to us.” He paused, meeting Coen’s stare. Coen had arched a brow at him. He turned back to me, his expression darkening. “Because you’re a dweller,” he needlessly added. “But youaregoing to stick with us from now on, and wewillprotect you. We will send the message to this academy that anyone messing with you is messing with us.”
I nodded, my eyes falling to the table. That could work. It would also help with the pain I felt whenever they weren’t near me, but what would happen when classes ended for the sun-cycle and everyone went back to their dorms? I would still need to be near them. The realisation hit me with a heavy, sickening clarity.
Shit.Shit! I can’t sleep alone!
“Why not?” Siret blinked at me, forcing me to reel in my thoughts.
“What?” Either I had lost my damned mind, or I kept accidently saying my thoughts out loud.
“Why can’t you sleep alone?”
Okay, maybe both. I had lost my mindandI kept speaking my thoughts out loud. But … I knew I hadn’t actually said that last part out loud. There was no way, unless …
“I … I’m scared,” I lied, trying to deflect.
Rome was suddenly in my face and all air seemed to be sucked from the vicinity of my lungs.
“What aren’t you telling us?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing. “There’ssomething.”
Damn. Damn. Triple damn.I couldn’t hide things from them now. Apparently, I was not only required to be attached at the hip with the five of them, but they could also hear my thoughts. Some of my thoughts. I was pretty sure that was what was happening. Buthow?
Yael is a competitive bastard.I directed that thought as loudly as I could and, sure enough, darkness descended over his features. Before he could react, though, Siret spoke: “You didn’t move your lips. We all heard you say that, but you … you didn’t fuckingspeak.”
I swallowed, my breathing shallow as it rushed in and out of my mouth. “Apparently … you five can read some of my thoughts now.”
There might not have been many other sols in the room with us, but it seemed that right then silence reigned through the entire dining space. The Abcurses just stared at me, not moving or blinking until finally Aros’s hand landed on my shoulder, demanding my attention. His golden eyes had turned a dark bronze colour.
“How is that even possible?” he asked. “Rau’s power doesn’t work like that. He can’t have done this. Can you hear our thoughts?”
As if they’d just wondered the same thing, Yael, Siret, and Coen were on their feet in an instant, their fury now crowding the space.
Damn the stupid gods.I wished I could run away from all the crazy right now. How far would I get before the pain killed me? It was probably an experiment I would have to try very soon.
Since none of them were backing down, I decided to put them out of their misery. “I can’t hear your thoughts. This seems to be a one-way thing. And it doesn’t appear that you are hearing everything from me either, otherwise you’d all have clicked on ages ago that something weird was happening.”
Coen smirked. “Doubtful, Rocks. Something tells me there isn’t a lot going on up in that mind, and around you, something weird isalwayshappening.”
Screw you, asshole.
