The grey-head looked unimpressed, regarding me with more hostility than ever before. ‘You didn’t even know she had a mate... Why am I not surprised?’
I ignored the dig. ‘Who is it?’
‘The Fogoyan King,’ she said as though it were obvious, making no effort to hide how repulsive she found me.
The girl seriously needed to mind her own business. Who was she to judge me? She knew nothing about our relations;the mere fact that we started to talk without jumping at each other’s throats was a success. ‘Do you know when she’ll be back?’
‘You think I keep her schedule?’ she shot back before disappearing.
What was with the snarkiness around this place lately? Miserable sons of bitches.
I made my way back to my bedroom and collapsed on the bed, hoping she would be back soon so I could properly rage about the piece of shit her brother was.
The brainless frog jumped on my chest, staring at my face. I tapped its head, and it melted into my touch. Its mouth curved, and it looked like it was smiling.
As the hours dragged on, I listened for doors closing, hoping to catch my younger sister. Eventually, I closed my eyes and decided to approach her tomorrow.
The sun shining through the curtains woke me as the clock signalled eight a.m. I didn’t even know the sun ever showed in this strange place. I ditched the clothes I was wearing since yesterday, catching the remnants of the ethics professor’s cologne that must have rubbed on me.
It wasn’t a bad smell, deep, woody and intense. The hot water soaked my sore hips, reminding me exactly why they hurt, as I wondered what that weird scratching fetish even was. I’d come across plenty of kinks in my lifetime, but this one was just so messy. The scabs that started to form looked disgusting and would chafe for days to come.
Wrapped in nothing but a robe, I headed down the corridor again and knocked firmly on Ava’s door.
Was she aware of her brother’s twisted intentions to mate me up? And why wasn’t I aware of her matehood? She hadsome serious explaining to do. And the Fire King, out of all people? He looked like a great one-night stand, but he was known for his impulsiveness and proclivity for violence. I hoped she had enough grey matter not to mate him before testing the waters…
I pressed my ear on the door to listen for any sounds that could indicate she was simply ignoring me.
Complete silence.
It seemed the little meeting with her man had been interesting enough for her to spend the night at his place.
Gods, Avari, did you bond with the Fogoyan King?
Our little Miss Prude was evidently growing up. Time had been moving far too quickly lately. I almost smiled to myself, reminiscing about the annoying kid she used to be, when the shadow daddy sprinted the length of the corridor and barged into her bedroom with a shove.
I watched in silence as he paced the room. Ava had mentioned he could sense his children. Could he feel his youngest getting it on? That would put any man on edge.
‘Where is she?’ he asked, looking behind me.
I opened my mouth at the same time as Alec said from afar, his voice low and tense, ‘Not in Fogoya.’
I turned to face him. ‘Didn’t she go to see the king?’
He ignored me entirely, walking up to his father. ‘He never wanted to meet yesterday. Doesn’t know why she thought that.’
‘Is he looking for her?’ he asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.
Alec kneeled before him. ‘It doesn’t have to mean anything. She could have done a spell or something and that’s why you can’t locate her.’
‘Is he looking for her as well?’ he repeated.
‘Yes, everyone he trusts. Who do we want on this?’ Alec asked, and I felt the need to jumpin.
‘She never mentioned a spell disturbing your sensing thing.' I raised my voice, and their heads snapped to me. ‘When she mentioned it, she didn’t seem to mind it either. I doubt she would do anything to—’
Alec scowled. ‘Ava and you aren’t exactly close, though, are you? Why would she tell you of all people about her plans?’
‘Why would you assume that she was planning anything? When I spoke to her two days ago, she said this place is her home and that she appreciates her… new family. She wasn’t planning to leave, if that’s what you’re thinking.’
