This particular poison had just been refined a few days ago.She hadn’t had a chance to test it yet.It was a painful concoction.Death would be slow and agonizing as they drowned in their own blood over the course of a few days.
And, of course, she was immune.
Thea’s front brushed the edges of Gus’s cloak as her voice lowered threateningly.“Cat got your tongue?”
Gus slid the vial out of its hiding spot.
“Is there a problem here?”Ryan asked.
Catching his approach out of the corner of her eye, Gus put the vial back where it belonged, tugging its covering over it, so it was fully concealed.That done, she moved her hand away from the hiding spot and put an innocent look on her face before remembering her mask covered her expression.
Although the question was posed to both of them, Thea was the one who received the full force of Ryan’s attention as he stopped a few feet away.It was like Gus didn’t exist.Like she wasn’t even standing there.
Unable to stand the blistering corona that roiled around his form, the seething mass that was as bright as a star, Gus dropped her eyes to the ground, blinking away the spots in her vision.
As always, Gus found herself uneasy in Ryan’s presence.She tried to make herself as unnoticeable as possible.
“Such a gallant protector,” Thea teased with a laugh that sounded like bells.“No need to worry though.The hermit and I were just catching up.”
Ryan’s answering silence acted like a cudgel.
Under the weight of his stare, Thea’s mocking smile gradually faded, her head dipped, her manner more respectful than it had been when it was just her and Gus.
“I hope I didn’t offend,” Thea pouted at Gus.
With both of them looking at her, Gus had no choice but to nod once to show there were no hard feelings.
“Oh good,” Thea drawled, her attention already moving beyond Gus to where a few of their siblings had appeared at the end of the hallway.“The last thing I want to do is scare our recluse back into her den.”
Thea bounced past them.The three waiting for her said something when she got close.Thea cast a mischievous look in Gus and Ryan’s direction before turning back to her companions.
“What did she want?”Ryan asked.
Without Thea there, Gus found herself the center of attention.His orange eyes, a unique shade that Gus had never seen on anyone else, pinned her in place.
“To know why I voted the way I did,” she confessed reluctantly.
There was no point in remaining silent.The tricks she used on Thea would never work on Ryan.From previous encounters, she knew he wouldn’t let up until he got a response.He’d be annoyingly patient and obnoxiously persistent until she gave in.
He was the only one who didn’t let her get away with her reticence, dragging her out of her self-imposed isolation whenever the fancy struck him.
It was one of the many reasons she avoided him as much as possible.For a moment, she cursed Thea for waylaying her.If not for that, Gus would be long gone.Not having to deal with this sometimes annoying, always terrifying, brother.
“I’m curious to know that myself.”Ryan regarded her thoughtfully.“You don’t typically involve yourself in our matters.”
“And I haven’t now.It’s a vote.The same as countless others.”
“You’ve never cast one before.You’ve always abstained,” Ryan pointed out.“What’s changed?”
Gus clammed up.
“Is there something I should know?”Ryan pressed.
There was, but Gus wasn’t planning on being the one to tell him.He could figure it out himself.He certainly had enough spies.
Sensing he wasn’t going to get anything out of her, he changed tactics.“I have a job for you.”Ryan smiled at the sharp look Gus gave him, his expression lazy and indulgent.“You’re not thinking of turning me down, are you?”
“Of course not.”
