“Has anyone ever told you that, Matheson?” Blaze went on softly. “How perfect you are?”
“I…”
When I tried to speak, no words came. I thought of Ramsay, Eric and Colton--how they thought I was perfect. I was their mate, after all.
“You are so loved here,” Blaze said. “More loved here than you would be anywhere else in the world.”
My mouth fell open slightly at his grand statement. Surely that couldn’t be true? Surely my mates loved me more than…
A warm, fluid sensation came over me, like something in my soul was being pulled closer to Blaze. My feet moved on their own until I stood an inch from him. He towered over me. He was so powerful. So strong and noble.
“There you go,” Blaze murmured. I felt his feathers on my back, stroking down from my hair down the base of my neck, down my back. The rhythmic movement felt nice. “See, Matheson? I’m only thinking of what’s best for you. You’re loved here. Worshipped.”
Worshipped?
They really worship me…?
No, that couldn’t be true. They respected me, prized me, but I was no object of worship. Was I?
As if reading my mind, Blaze continued. “If you weren’t a living being, we might put you on a pedestal, behind glass to protect you. That’s all we want. To give you a perfect life, Matheson, because youareperfect. It’s what you deserve. Imagine living here among all this decadence. No hunger, no pain… Everything you ever wanted delivered to you. Imagine.”
I was imagining it. No more hunting, or having to do anything for myself. The gryphons would take care of it for me. I knew that with clear certainty.
Maybe Iwasworshipped here.
Maybe… I didn’t have to leave--
The door suddenly burst open.
I snapped out of my thoughts. Noro stood there, his feathers slightly puffed up.
“I apologize for the intrusion,” Noro said quickly. “I--”
“Noro,” Blaze growled.
He withdrew his wings from around my body, followed by a cool brush of air. I shuddered. It felt like stepping out into a cool, refreshing pool after standing in a hot and humid place.
“Why have you come?” Blaze demanded. Then before Noro could respond, he added, “Ah, nevermind that. I was done giving Matheson a tour anyway.”
Noro wore a very slight frown, but I couldn’t discern why.
Blaze nudged me forward and I stumbled, as if in a slight stupor. I found my legs and returned to Noro’s side.
“It was a long tour, very thorough,” Blaze said with a thin smile. “So don’t be surprised if he’s a bit tired.”
“All right,” Noro said, nodding curtly. “Come, omega.”
Noro led me down the grand hall, back towards the guest room. He didn’t speak to me the entire time.
A seed of doubt entered my mind. Was Noro upset with me?
Had I done something wrong?
No, that couldn’t be right. Noro was a gryphon. He was supposed to love me. To worship me.
Just like the rest of them.
Chapter 11
