Page 89 of The Merciless

It was only when she looked up that she realized her eyes were blurred by unfallen tears. It reassured her somehow, that they had truly,trulygotten out of this alive. It was enough for her to twist Ira deeper into her arms and breathe out calmly.

“We made it.” She whispered in Ira’s ears and watched as the girl pulled away from both of them. Somehow, Ray knew Angel’sexactexpression. It was the only reason why she didn’t turn to look at him. Not even as she laced her hands and looked at Ira’s scarred face. Her eyes crinkled in pain, “I’m sorry you didn’t–”

“You’re,” she interrupted, sniffing once like a kid, “Late.”

Ray’s lips split into a smile, “I know. I’m sorry.” She said softly and touched Ira’s face lightly. Her wounds were still healing, the one line below her eye obviously leaving a scar as it healed. The one on her nose, on the other hand, seemed to disappear bit by bit. But Ira’s beauty, her eyes, her face, everything was untouched by the violence she’d seen so far. Instead, the other girl looked brighter than everas she beamed at both of them.

Ray didn’t think she’deverseen her this happy.

“So,” Ira began, recovered surprisingly quickly as she hastily wiped her tears away and faced Angel,

“I heard you proposed?”

Angel’s brows shot in the air as Ray whirled to face him with crossed arms. He looked at her for help and found nothing butdon’t you dare.

He turned back to Ira and shrugged,

“I’m ready to marry her anytime she wants.” He began and turned to her with a grin as she scoffed in surprise,

“I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

Ray heard Neera mimic gagging behind her but didn’t turn to shoot her a glare. Just leveled that look on Angel as Ira murmured loudly,

“Obsessive much?”

Angel clicked his tongue, a touch of annoyance in her eyes as he stared at the younger girl,

“It’s called romance.”

“Oh yeah?” Ira countered, “And how many women have you dated to know what that is?”

Angel’s eyes narrowed, “Are you testing me right now?”

Ray’s head darted between them, her eyes lit in amusement as she watched the two of them banter. A tap on her shoulder had her shying away from the conversation and she looked over her shoulder to see Cameron hovering behind her.

He had a few bandages on his cheek and one around his head from when he’d slammed his head against some bricks when the ceiling had fallen upon them. But overall, he looked way better than he was last night. Ignoring her pang of relief, she arched a brow in question, and he just lifted his hand and pointed in the direction of their destroyed kitchen.

Her head lifted and turned in the direction of the kitchen. And her eyes widened when she saw Kyle sitting upright with Sorin asleep beside him.

Sorin’s head draped on his shoulder as the other boy fixated his green eyes on her. Ray tipped her chin upwards, her brows furrowing as she relayed her question silently.

Kyle didn’t move an inch though. Not when Sorin was curled against him like a cat. He didn’t stop glaring. Ray tilted her head in question and began signing,

“What the hell do you want?”

Kyle’s eyes lit up in recognition and he lifted his hands in the air,

“What happened last night?”He signed back and Ray looked at Sorin once before looking back at him.

“Didn’t he tell you?”

Kyle frowned,“No, he was half dead last night.”He signed angrily,“He said it was you who barred me from heading there.”

Ray shrugged,“I couldn’t trust you to not kill him.”

An outraged sound left his throat, and he began signing more aggressively,“He’s my fucking boyfriend. Are we going to have a problem with that? You might as well get used to it because I’m going to make your life–”

Ray blinked in surprise when she saw Sorin slap Kyle’s hands down. And laughed silently when Kyle shot him a dirty look. Sorin didn’t open his eyes, just yawned and curled further against him. Ray could practicallyseeKyle melting as the blonde boy turned to face her again, calmer than before.

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