“I told them I was staying with friends,” Marrick corrected.“They knew how to reach me if they needed me.”
“And how did you both come to join Arslan’s pride?”Marrick’s mother cut in.
“Our parents arranged for us to join him.They all knew we wished to join the same pride when we came of age.And Arslan’s pride is the only one in the area that only receives male sacrifices.”For some reason, the atmosphere in the room changed as the words hit the air.
Silence stretched out taut around them.
“Is that how Arslan and Ryland met?”Mrs Powell finally asked.
Luther nodded.“He was thrown to us last year.He’d left his own pride some years before, so Arslan wasn’t able to visit the leaders of his pride to speak to them.”
“That’s why you’re here—to ask for our blessing to…court Marrick?”
Luther nodded.The human words sounded about right.
Blaine leaned forward in his seat.“Do you agree that Marrick is old enough to leave his pride?”
“Marrick is old enough to speak for himself,” Marrick cut in, quiet fury suddenly filling his voice, clipping each word short.
“You’re part of your parents’ pride.You should do as they say.”
“I knew there was something I liked about them,” Mr Powell murmured to his wife.
Mrs Powell cleared her throat.“His…pride thinks it’s best if no one rushes into anything.There will be plenty of time in the future to talk about Marrick becoming your…”
“Mate,” Luther filled in.“We’ll take good care of him.Better care of him than he understands he needs.”
His mother smiled gently at him as their eyes met.
“I can take care of myself,” Marrick cut in.
“You were given the all clear, sweetie, not an invincibility cloak.You need to remember that sometimes.”
“All clear?”Luther asked.
“You’re ill,” Blaine said, at the same time.
“I’m fine,” Marrick said, every word brittle.“I was ill when I was a little kid, but I’m fine now.”
“You should have told us,” Luther chided.
“If it was relevant, I’d have told you.But it’s not—I’m fine.”
Luther looked across to Marrick’s parents.
“No,” Marrick snapped, leaning forward in his chair.“I’m fine.You don’t need anyone else to tell you that.You’ve got no reason to think I’m lying to you, but if you don’t trust me, then at least have the guts to say so outright.”
“We do trust you,” Luther said, slowly, meaning it completely.
Marrick didn’t seem the least bit mollified.
“I think, perhaps, it would be best if we left you boys alone to chat in private,” Mr Powell said as the silence stretched out once more.
Luther was vaguely aware of Marrick’s parents leaving the room, but he found himself incapable of looking away from their pet.
Marrick stood up.Luther and Blaine were on their feet a second later.
“Did Arslan tell you where I live?”
