“Focus.”
“I’mtrying.”
“First of all, you’re not a creep.” Aurelia snorts derisively as she returns to braiding my hair. “If Zeke tried to kiss you, it means he wanted to. He stopped because it’s whatyouwanted.”
“So then why did Bane feel like he had to rescue him from me?”
I’m silent for a really long time because I don’t have the answer. Something about Aurelia triggers Bane in a way we haven’t seen before. I didn’t have a ready answer. I only have theories to offer, and each is more frightening than the last.
“Maybe he didn’t,” I finally offer. “Maybe it was something else that made him step in. Something about you.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t follow. Bane is supposed to be the really scary one. The alter whose button you press if you want everything to goBOOM, right?”
“Look, one thing is clear, and that’s the fact that we’re all influencing each other in major ways, and we’re going through some changes that we may not be ready to understand.”
“And in the meantime?”
“I think it’s better if you’re not alone with Zeke anymore. Just until we figure out what is making Bane act out of the ordinary.”
“I think that’s going to be a bit of a problem.”
“Because we live in a shoebox?” I arch a brow. The cabin isn’t small by any means, but it’s easy to forget that Aurelia is a billionaire. Our cabin could probably fit in her living room.
“You all could try shrinking your egos a little. That should save some room for me.”
I grin and get comfortable in my seat. “Not a chance.”
“Worth a shot,” she grumbles.
Two hours later, Aurelia is finishing the last of the plaits when the sound of footsteps on the front porch reaches our ears. Thorin and Zeke must be home. When Aurelia goes to greet them, I stop her and make her stay while I check to verify that it’s actually them. Her uncle not only knows that Aurelia is alive, he now knows exactly where to find her. It’s not a coincidence that he’s been checking up on us.
I leave the dining room and breathe a sigh of relief when the front door opens and I see my brothers walk in. They’re wearing hunting gear, so I figure Thorin must have taken Zeke out to blow off some steam.
“Catch anything good?”
“Not really. You?”
“Just a whole lot of trouble,” I respond.
“Can I come out now?” Aurelia calls out needlessly.
Thorin raises a brow, but he doesn’t look surprised that I made Aurelia wait out of sight. He would have done the same thing.
“Come on,” I grant.
Aurelia inches out, and I roll my eyes at her antics since mocking our need to protect her is her favorite brand of sarcasm. “Hi.” She awkwardly waves a hand.
Zeke nods at her before flopping down on one of the armchairs. Usually, he prefers to hide somewhere alone and brood, but this time he stays with his gaze trained on Aurelia.
He watches me, I hear Aurelia saying.
Thorin crooks a finger at her, and Aurelia nervously shuffles over. She knows she’s in trouble.
“You went to see your uncle?”
“That’s what normal people do when their family is visiting from out of town.”
“I’m sure you can make the exception for family that’s already tried to kill you once.”
