I sighed, relieved that he’d agreed without interrogating us about why Rorik had arrived empty-handed.
When Cobalt disappeared into his room, Rorik shook his head, distressed.
“This isn’t right,” he mumbled. “I can’t accept his clothes.”
“Why not?” I blurted.
Rorik stared at the door anxiously, like a monster was about to pop out and bite his head off.
“Cobalt is my superior,” he said under his breath. “I don’t deserve to borrow his belongings.”
Something snapped inside me.
“Stop that, Rorik,” I growled. “You’re not inferior to anybody. My brothers and I being alphas doesn’t mean we’re better than you.”
“Yes, it does,” Rorik insisted, his tone completely accepting.
My stomach twisted with sympathy and anger.
“We don’t believe that,” I stated.
Rorik slowly faced me, his expression lost in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
The door opened again. Cobalt held out a big pile of clothes.
Rorik didn’t move.
“Take them, Rorik,” I instructed. “Please.”
Rorik obeyed.
Shit,I thought.I can’t order him around because he’ll actually listen. He’s straight-up brainwashed.
“Thanks, Cobalt,” I said hurriedly. “C’mon, Rorik.”
He fell in step behind me.
Fuck! I did it again!
I stopped suddenly, making Rorik stumble into my back. His bulk felt nice against me, but it wasn’t the time for that.
“I’m sorry, Saffron,” Rorik said.
I gave myself a single moment to relish the fluttery sensation in my chest when he said my name.
“Shush.” I maneuvered beside him again. “No apologizing, and no following behind. Walk next to me.”
Rorik’s lips were a straight line. He clearly wanted to argue his position, but I wasn’t having any of that bullshit. Instead, Rorik trudged down the hall like there was a stick up his ass, but to his credit, he stayed beside me.
Back in my room, I plopped on the couch with a sigh. That ten-minute adventure had drained me. Now I understood that Rorik’s strange behavior stemmed from an unhinged belief system. He was messed up really bad.
Aurum must’ve heard our return. His bedroom door opened and he strolled out with a yawn. “You guys still up? It’s almost midnight.” He ground to a halt. “Uh, why’s there a huge naked guy in our room?”
“That’s Rorik,” I explained.
Aurum blinked. “Wow. He’s big. And naked.”
Why was he still naked? I glanced over at Rorik, standing in the center of the room with his armful of borrowed clothes.
