Maybe I should speak with Dr. King about prescribing me some medication despite my aversion to them. I’m clearly losing my mind here, and why do I always feel so hot in his company anyway?
It’s like my entire being is on fire.
“That’s an odd statement to make. To graduate, you need to pass exams, and to do that, you have to study. That’s how you gain knowledge.”
“You can graduate and never know about the myths, for example, because you failed to pay attention to them in class. Besides, countless smart people never graduated from high school or university, but they have knowledge and the skills.”
“I never said—” Huffing in frustration, I drop the argument since it would lead us nowhere. “You know what? Let’s just say you’re right. It’s a beautiful painting.” If I stretch my lips some more in these fake smiles, I’m going to rip my mouth. “I’ll go and say hi to everyone else.” I try to walk past him and gasp when his hand grabs my wrist, his fingers grazing over my skin, and scorching heat zips through me at the contact.
He steps closer to me, his fierce gaze trapping mine, shocked, and I slide back, wanting to put as much distance between us as possible. “Why do you think it’s beautiful?”
My brow furrows, and I clear my throat once again. I need water, and fast! “The colors, atmosphere, attention to detail. It’s a work of art, and the artist must have been really talented.” I yelp when he brings me even closer to him, my chest bumping against his, and my splayed palm ends up on his shoulder as I steady myself. “What the hell are you doing, Levi?” I hiss through my teeth, glancing around to make sure we’re alone in the hallway, only to look back at him when his hold on my hand tightens.
Everything inside me goes on high alert, thousands of goose bumps breaking out on my skin, while my heartbeat speeds up so fast I can hear the drumming in my ears.
“Prometheus sacrificed so much for humans, and they did nothing to save him. I’d say the beauty of this painting lies in the complete tragedy it shows.” He places his other hand on my waist, gripping it, and the touch burns me from the inside out. “If we dedicate our lives to others, such a gift would rarely be appreciated and, in most cases, easily forgotten. Because good deeds pave our way into hell.” He leans forward, his scent enveloping me, and my fingers curl on his shoulder. I should push him away and run. It’s hard to be anything but frozen under his intense stare, however. “Any beauty entails pain, Lavender. Otherwise, why would people be so mesmerized by it?”
“People were hopeless against gods and titans. They couldn’t do anything to save themselves, let alone him. They had no choice but to comply.”
His fingers dig into my waist harder while his face darkens. “We always have a choice. Silence and lack of action are a choice on their own that has catastrophic consequences.”
His words rub against the festering wounds that still hurt me, my mind fighting with my heart because there is so much truth to it. However, with these emotions also comes anger, and I lift my chin, pressing my palm against his shoulder, trying to push him away. He stays unmovable. “Prometheus saved people because he wanted to. One might argue it was his choice, so he was the only one to bear the consequences.” I take a deep breath. “If we were to believe the Greek gods and titans existed…then Prometheus sacrificed himself so humankind could thrive. That’s why we still remember him to this day.”
“Does it make the pain more bearable and worth it?” Our lips are a breath away from each other’s. “If you put yourself through sacrifices your whole life…do you think you’ll find it was worth it at the end of it all?”
His question reminds me of how, over the years, I used to wonder whether my life was worth living.
If maybe another day was torture and punishment instead of a privilege.
On the days when kitchen knives and empty syringes seemed a temptation one could hardly resist.
I push at his shoulder again. “Let go of me.” I step on his foot with my heel. “I’m going to scream.”
“Go ahead,moy cvetochek. It would be nice for a chance to hear your voice since that silence of yours started to bore me a long time ago.”
The clearing of a throat makes me freeze, and I turn my head to the right. “Not that this isn’t entertaining as fuck compared to what’s going on in the living room. Still, I suggest you two talk it out later because in about a minute, her brothers are going to lose their shit. They’re already wondering what’s taking her so long.” Wyatt leans on the doorframe, flashing me a grin, wearing an indigo suit. For whatever reason, the Kings alwayswear suits to gatherings. Rafael fits right in with them in that regard. “Hi, darling. Nice to see you again.”
Levi’s body tenses against mine, his voice dropping a few octaves, and its chilling sound rubs against my nerve endings, creating a weird sense of longing. “She has a name, Wyatt. Use it.” He loosens his grip on me, and I finally manage to escape, taking several steps back and running my hands over the skirt of my dress. “We’ll finish this later.”
I don’t appreciate the order, and reply, “Like hell we will. I’m not interested in one-sided conversations.”
“Why? You seemed to enjoy them over the years.”
“You are so?—”
“Lavender?” Valencia calls from the living room, and I shut up, deciding not to engage with the gorgeous jerk anymore.
“I’m coming,” I call back, and plaster on a grin as I go toward the living room, passing Wyatt on the way. “Hi.” I stop in the threshold and elbow him hard on the side. He huffs and laughs. “That’s for making Aurelia run around the library for your malicious reasons.”
His whole demeanor changes, amusement vanishing in an instant, and I blink in surprise because I’ve never seen this cruel glint flashing in his eyes. “Stay out of it, Lavender.”
“You’re bullying an innocent girl.”
“She isn’t as innocent as you think.”
The determination in his tone makes it known he won’t let go of his grudge. “Her life is hard as it is, Wyatt. Ian should have known better, and you can’t punish her for your twin’s crimes.”
“Since you’re in the mood to give advice tonight, here is mine. If no one asked for your opinion, don’t voice it because it means that people don’t give a fuck.”
