“You’re avoiding my question, Ro. Spill it.”
I didn’t need to explain Alexei’s reports to her. She already knew. So I filled her in on my new theory. She appeared skeptical at first, then her pursed lips turned to a begrudging nod.
“I’m assuming you’ve already considered some kind of blood-witch magic.”
“Yes. But the information on them is nonexistent. I’ve already checked with Cato.”
“What about Anya?” MJ suggested, sounding doubtful.
I snorted, then paused to consider it. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt.” She was the closest thing we had to a witch in residence. “But we can’t limit ourselves to thinking it’s some kind of witch magic. We have to exhaust every outlier and possibility.”
She hummed her agreement and raised her bow. My shadows slipped out of me, picked up another target, and positioned it in front of the one she destroyed.
MJ released her arrow and twisted toward me before her shot thwacked into the bull’s-eye. “Are you going to tell me why you’re actually here now?”
I crossed my arms and contemplated my chances of leaving without repercussions. MJ lifted a brow as if to say,do it and see what happens.
I peered into the shadows of the empty arena, wishing for someone to walk through the doors and save me from this conversation. Unfortunately, it seemed everyone wanted to sleep. “The hellion seems to be rekindling her relationship with the pet.”
From the corner of my eye, a smile grew on MJ’s face.
“Why are you smiling?” I snapped.
She laughed, disbelief ringing in the sound. “Because you actually admitted it!”
“You would’ve stabbed me if I didn’t.”
MJ shrugged. “Maybe. But it took you almost two months to admit to your bond, and I had to pry it out of you. I still question if you would’ve said anything if I hadn’t figured it out when I shot her.”
“Fine.” She was right. MJ had that habit. “What do I do?” I gritted out.
Seven Hells, it hurt to ask for help. I was more than three hundred years old and didn’t know how to start a relationship? Pathetic.
MJ’s grin stretched wider, something teasing lurking in her fiery amber gaze.
“I will volunteer you to change Lex’s bandages next and salve up his wings as he regales you with all his sexual escapades,” I seethed, narrowing my eyes.
Her grin fell into a glare. “I’d rather get bitten by an infected.”
“I’m sure you would.”
She sighed as if I ruined her fun. “Show her who you are, Ronen. She barely knows you outside of this.” MJ waved her hand around the glass-encased sandpit. “That’s nothing special. You want her heart. You’re going to have to open yours and give her every piece you’ve kept to yourself. Good. Horrible. Annoying. Honest.”
Honest.The word sliced into my gut.
“And what if I haven’t been totally honest?”
MJ waited for me to explain.
Fuck.
“What if I knew Lucille was draining her mother?”
“Might as well tell Aspen she’s his then.”
I must’ve looked more distraught over that comment than I thought. Enough to prompt MJ to squeeze my shoulder, her face a mixture of sympathy and pity.
“Why’d you keep it from her?”
