Page 109 of Knot What She Seems
Irritation flares inside of me. They’re seriously askingTeddieabout this?
Why didn’t they come to me—to Brylee? I want to scream thatI’m right herebut manage to stop myself.
I suck in a breath, my nails digging into my palms, and debate how to respond.
“She’s fine,” I settle on at last, attempting to shove my way through them. The words feel hollow and empty. How can I say she’s fine when she’s not? WhenI’mnot? Every day, when the memories bubble close to the surface, it’s a challenge to just get out of bed, let alone go about my day with a smile.
When I was first rescued, I spent weeks in bed, refusing to leave the safety and security my covers provided. Teddie and Caran had to coax me out with promises of hot chocolate, silly movies, andThe Office. The royal psychiatrist diagnosed me with depression—though of course, my mother refuted it and claimed I just needed a little sunlight and fresh air. I don’t think she wanted to deal with a depressed child, so she pretended I didn’t exist instead.
Dad sat with me for a few days…but even he didn’t have the patience or the inclination to fight for me.
What made everything worse was the fact that the alphas who betrayed me, the triplets I had loved with my entire heart, got off scot-free. An error in the legal proceedings. Someone’s fucking incompetence caused the three men who sold me to get off with only a slap on the wrist.
I learned, right then and there, that not only could I not rely on any alphas—but that lawyers were a fucking joke. I’d never been a bitter, jaded person before, but now? I don’t know how to feel anything else.
Kylian places a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from leaving. “Don’t lie to us.” His voice is hard. “According to Luka, she freaked the fuck out. That’s not fine.” He clears his throat, releases me, and glances at his feet. “Look, Teddie, I know you don’t like us, but I promise you we only want what’s best for your sister.”
“And did you consider askingherabout them?” I snap, anger bursting from me in a volcanic explosion. All the emotions I’ve been holding in, all the anger and heartache the triplets’ appearance conjured inside of me… It all comes out. “What happened to Brylee isn’t my secret to share. And the fact that you think you can just come here and demand answers…” I clench and unclench my hands as I struggle to draw in a full breath.
I’m angry. So fucking angry.
How dare they do this?
Some of the tension drains from Kylian. “I know that. Fuck, I know that. But…”
“But you know she won’t answer us,” Ridge interrupts, his tone steely.
I want to snap that they haven’t even tried yet but bite my tongue. They’re right, I suppose. I wouldn’t willingly answer any of their questions. Not now. Not with the wound still raw and bloody.
Maybe not ever.
They don’t deserve to know my pain.
“Look.” I work to lower my voice in pitch, realizing it’s been rising higher and higher in tandem to my mounting irritation. “I’m not here to gossip about my sister or help you win her over or whatever it is you want to do.” Deep breaths. “If you want answers, ask her yourself. Don’t go behind her back. That’s one way to lose her trust forever.”
Ridge, Kylian, and Luka exchange a look. The latter begins to tap his fingers against the inside of his elbow, while the former simply scowls. It’s obvious he’s not pleased with my response, but he won’t argue against me.
Kylian, however, grins and throws an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his sweaty side.
I tense automatically, but not for the obvious reasons.
Being this close to him, with his arm around me, I want nothing more than to nuzzle against his neck. Breathe him in. Lick that tiny droplet of sweat cascading down the column of his throat.
All things I can never do, regardless of what persona I’m wearing.
“You’re not so bad, are you, Teddie?” Kylian asks, reaching over to rub at the top of my head the way you would a toddler. We begin to walk toward the door of the classroom.
I scowl. “You’re just saying that because you want to get into my sister’s pants.”
“No.” Ridge’s stern voice makes me freeze. I frown and glance over my shoulder at him. He’s walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Luka, irritation painted across his face. “That’s not what this is about.”
“It’s not?” I arch an incredulous eyebrow at him.
“Brylee is not just…” For a brief moment, his scowl falters, and hesitation sparks in his eyes. “She’s not just a prize we’re trying to win. She’s… She’s everything. Our entire purpose is ensuring she’s safe and happy, which means making sureyou’resafe and happy. You understand me?”
My heart begins to pound even faster.
That’s similar to what he said to me earlier in the palace.
