He hesitated, so unlike Dathal, and my back stiffened.
“I know why you pushed him away,” he said, the fae words rolling off his tongue, seeming to hold more weight somehow. “Why you push them all away.”
“Because I’m not looking for a relationship,” I shot back. “With anyone.”
“Because of what happened with Zh’alek.”
My head snapped round to face him. “Don’t.” My hands curled into fists at my side, desperate for something to hold on to.
Dathal’s arm crept around my shoulders, drawing me to him as he leant to whisper in my ear. “I know what he did hurt you. I know you don’t trust anyone because of it.”
“I trust plenty of people.”
“You don’t trust Talis.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, his words hitting their mark. “I can’t.”
His sigh wasn’t unexpected, but it stung. I moved to shrug him off, but he pulled me tighter into his side, turning me so he could hug me instead.
“People are staring,” I grumbled but let him manhandle me.
“Since when do I care what strangers think?”
He held me like that until I relaxed against him with a heavy sigh of my own. “It’s…complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?”
“Goddess,” I muttered, gently shoving him off me, and he let me this time. “I’m not used to you being the voice of reason. The human realm has made you soft.”
Scowling, he jabbed a finger in my ribs. “Take that back right now. I’m as lethal and terrifying as ever.”
I smirked at him. “Sure you are.”
His eyes softened, bottom lip caught between his teeth as he looked at me, and I knew what he was thinking. I’d sidestepped our conversation. He’d drop it if I wanted him to. I saw the question in his eyes, and I was sorely tempted to let it go, but… “You think I should tell him the truth? That I should trust him?”
“I think you could trust him if you wanted to. Talis is nothing like Zh’alek.” He tapped his temple. “I know I’m not the mind reader here, but I can read people, and every little bit of magic in me insists that Talis is as good as they come. I’m not telling you what you should or shouldn’t do, Cousin. I would never. And if you’re really not interested, then fine. Let it be. But don’t shut him out because you’re scared.”
“I am scared.” I moved so that our shoulders were touching, needing his strength. “What if it’s too late? What if I tell him my truth and he decides he’s not interested anymore? What then?”
“Then you move on and try and be the friends you used to be. I can’t promise you that everything will work out if you trust him with this. But my instincts are never wrong, Axel, and I believe that no matter the outcome, your secret will be safe with him.” He gripped my shoulder. “With Rys too. Don’t make Gabriel keep that secret from him.”
Chlah’al.
Telling Gabriel and Max had been necessary, but it had also been oddly cathartic having others know about my magic. A little less hiding for me to do, but I hadn’t considered the consequences for Gabriel, and that was incredibly selfish on my part.
“Something for you to think about, anyway.” He went to move past me, and I caught his arm.
“Where are you going?”
“Back to the bar. Nick is due a break soon and I have plans.”
“Ugh.” I wrinkled my nose, and he laughed.
“Are you staying here or coming back to join the others?”
I glanced out to the dance floor. Dathal and I together garnered many a lustful gaze. It would be oh so easy to walk into the middle of it all and lose myself with someone, take my mind off all the fuckery going on in my life right now.
But my heart wasn’t in it.
