Page 57 of Tainted Gifts
Simone wipes her teary eyes while passing me, never once glancing up to meet my eyes. Hell, she's acting like it's my damn fault. Fucking hybrid women. My headache is going to rival Aria's at this rate.
I walk back, my eyes meeting the full blood's temporarily as he shakes hands with one of the generals. He gives me a smug smirk before turning his attention back to the war hero, and I roll my eyes.
Fucking prick.
Aria's eyes are glued to him when I return, and I almost startle her when I speak.
"Here," I murmur, biting back my fury while handing her the drink.
As pissed as I am, I know she's just acting out. She can't possibly be that infatuated with him. This is payback, and I probably deserve it.
"Thanks," she murmurs dismissively as she walks in front of me on her way to a back row of seats on the lower level.
We sit down on the row that is mostly empty. Everyone else seems to be trying to get closer to the front so they can suck up to the commander as he passes them, shaking hands in his obligatory fashion.
Aria's eyes drift to his back, and he turns to wink at her, letting her know he can hear her thoughts amongst the crowd. I don't care if I do make her temperature rise uncomfortably. I wrap my arm around her shoulders to cut off his ability to read her mind, sealing the door to the silent conversation they were having just as he takes his place behind the podium.
Chapter
Aria
I shrug free from Kellan's heated arm, making him curse under his breath. He can get the hell over it. My head wasn't hurting until his heat touched me. Jase brings me relief and Kellan brings me pain.
That stupid ass kissed my best friend just before confessing his love. He loves me about as much as a cat loves a bouncing string. He's fascinated, not in love. Unbelievable. I may be bound to him, but that doesn't mean I have to forgive him instantly.
Jase tilts his head, looking from me to Kellan and letting me know he just heard that thought. His eyes soften, showing me pity before shaking his head. His teeth clench together, proving he's pissed. But why?
I assumed he would enjoy knowing Kellan isn't as strong willed as him. I even expected him to rub my face in it.
He shakes his head, answering my question, and my heart melts as I figure out what he's saying without words.
You love me too much to see me hurting?
He nods, his eyes staying fixed on mine.
I'm not hurting. I already told you, I don't love him yet. The last thing you need to worry about is me. Focus on the kids. And don't you ever watch my dreams again.
He laughs lightly, a burst of unexpected power breaking through his lips, startled by my last line as he shakes his head for a new reason. His eyes break away as my cheeks heat up once again.
I can't believe he told me he saw my dreams about him. That's so mortifying. He even had to give me great detail about what it did to him.
He smirks, his eyes focusing on the door just before the council walks in. They're a bit dramatic if you ask me. They're dressed in dark, hooded cloaks that cover their heads and drape to their feet to trail behind them with a small train. Their faces are hidden from view as they come to take their seats.
Fifteen of them sit down at an elongated table that faces the podium where Jase is standing. They leave their hoods up, not offering us a glance at the people determining whether twenty innocent children live or die.
Jase straightens his tie, seriousness taking over his face as he takes his commanding stance in front of the cloaked council.
"As you know, you've been assembled here today to decide the fate of twenty children we recovered during a bunker bust. We have an unwritten law about emergents and their children, until the past few hours, most of the people here didn't even know what an emergent was."
He pauses, allowing the whispers to roar free. He looks at me, nervousness in his eyes.
I'll keep them safe. I'm taking them north with me.
He smirks, seeming amused by that. Suddenly a guy appears from behind me, passing me a note addressed to Aralia Banner. I study the sealed envelope before looking up to see the ghost of a grin on Jase's face as he starts explaining emergents and their children to the ones who are still uncertain.
I tune him out as I read the letter from him, my stomach twisting in knots as I hide it from view.
Aria,
